The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-05-24
Post Norton TOYH

Why is it tbPt 20 many people keep all
their pleasant thoughts and Kind words
about q man bottled and sealed DIP pnul
he is dead, when they come and bseak
tbs bottle over his coffin aud baths his
anyoud in fragrance d Many q man goes
through life with scarcely ono brsghf.
cheering, encouraging, helpful Word.
He tolls hard and In lowly' obscuyity.
He gives out his life freely and unstinted-
ly for others. l remember such nan.
He was not brilliant; he was not gteat;
but he was faithful. He had many
things to discourage him. 3, Troubles
thickened about his life. He was mis-
represented and misundemtood. Every
body believed that he was good man,
but no one ever said kindly or pleasant.
thing to him. He never heard COM
piiment, acareely ever good wish. No
one eve. took any pains 70 encourage
him, TO strengthen his feeble kneess, .
tighten his Gardens, or to lift up his
heart by gentle deed of love or cheer
full word. He was neglected. Unkind
things wers often said ef him, 5At
l stood by his coffin, and there Sere
many tongues to speak his praise. There
was not breath of aspiration in the air.
Men spoke Of self-denials, Of his good
qualities of his quietness, his modeety,
MS HUMILITY, his presence of heart, his
faith and prayer. There were MANY who
spske Indignantly Of the charges tl.s.
falsehood had forged against him iu ttile
past years, and of the Treatment he had
received. There were enough kind
thii;as said during the two or three days
that he lay j. til. coffin, and while the
company sto.d around his open grave, TO
have blessed him and made him happy all
his fifty years, and to have thrown sweet
meas and joy about his soul during all his
painful and weary journey. But his ears
were clio ed then, and could not hear g
| word that was spoken. His heart, Vas
still then, and could not be thrilled by
| the grateful sounds. He cared nothing
then for the sweet flowers that were piled
upon his coffin. The love blossomed out
too late. The kindness came when the
life could not receive its blessing.
And said then that would not keep
, hli my %'nd words, and all my pleasant
thoughts and feelings, about my neigh
| Dor, locked up in my breast till he is
dead. They will do him no good then.
His dead hand cannot feel the warm
pressure. Gentle words will not make
his pale, cold face glow. 1t will be too
late, when he lies in the coffin, to seek to
make him happy, to lift the shadows off
his life, or to brighten his path.
| 1t costs but little to give men great
deal of Joy and help. One brought q
whole week they filed my room with
fragrance. One wrote me q cheering
letter, breathing spirit of gratitude and
love. It came when l was weary and
| depressed, and was like the meal pre-
pared by the angel for the old prophet.
went on its blessed strength for many
days. One met me on the street and
spoke an encouraging word and grasped
me warmly by the hand; and for hours I
felt that warm grasp and heard that word
echoing through my soul. A little child
may brighten scores of lives erery day.
There is not one of us who may not
gladden. and strengthen many heart be-
tween every rising and setting sun. Why
should we not live to bless the living, to
cheer the disheartened, to sweeten cups
that are bitter, to hold up the hands that
hang down, TO comfort those that mourn,
to bear JOY into joyless homes? Kind
words viii not spoil man. Ii q sermon
helps you it will do the preacher no harm
to tell him so. If the editor writes an
ardo!e that does you good, he can write o
Sill better one if you send him word Of
thanks. If book .olesses you, do you
not owe it to the author, to write gre.e-
IuI acknowledgement If you know O
weary or neglected one, would it 1ot. be
anch works as angels do, would it not be
ChrfBt-sike work, to eeek every opportu.
nifty to brighten and bless that llfes Do
not wait till the eyes are closed, the ears
deaf, and the arm stilled. Do it now.
Pest snorteM kindnesses do not cheet.
Flowers on the coffin cast mo- fragrance
backyard over tho weary dayss-Reu.yL.