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

Why is it that so many people Keep all
their pleasant thoughts and kind words
about man bottled and sealed up until
he is dead, when they come and break
the bottle over his coffin and battle. his
shroud in fragrance p Many a man goes
through life with scarcely one bright,
cheering, encouraging, helpful word.
He tolls hard and in lowly. obscurity.
He gives out his life freely and unstinted-
ly for others. I remember such man.
He was not brilliant; he was not great /;
but he was faithful. He had many
things, to discourage him.: Troubles
thickened about his life. He was mis-
represented and misunderstood. Every
body believed that he was a good man,
but no one ever said kindly or pleasant
thing to him. He never heard COM
pliment, scarcely ever good wish. No
one ever took any pains to encourage
him, to strengthen his feeble knees, to
tighten his burdens, or to lift up: his
heart by gentle deed of love or cheer
full word. He was neglected. Unkind
things we're often said Of him. ~:
I stood by his coffin, and there were
many tongues to speak his praise. There
was not breath Of aspiration in the air.
Men spoke of selfdenials, of his good
qualities, of his quietness, his modesty.
his humility, his presence of heart, his
faith and prayer. There were MANY who
spoke Indignantly of the charges that
falsehood had forged against him in the
past years, and of the treatment he had
received. There were enough kind
things said during the two or three days
that he lay in the coffin, and while the
company stood around his open grave, to
have blessed him and made him happy all
his fifty years, and to have thrown sweet
ness and joy about his soul during all his
painful and weary journey. But his ears
were closed then, and could not hear
word that was spoken. His heart was
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 I would not keep
all my kind 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 out little to give men great
deal of Joy and help. One brought q
bunch Of flowers to my table, and for
whole week they filled my room with
fragrance. One wrote me a cheering
letter, breathing spirit of gratitude and
love. 1t came when I was weary and
depressed, and was like the meal pre-
pared by the angel for the old prophet.
I 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 every 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
hangd n, to comfort those that mourn,
to bear joy into joyless homes? Kind
words will not spoil aman. If a sermon
helps you it will do the preacher no harm
to tell him So. If the editor writes an
article that does you good, he can write q
ot;11 hottar onn IF vor, oond him q word nf
thanks. If book blesses you, do you
not owe it to the authorize write CRATE.
full acknowledgement If you know q
weary or neglected one, would it not be
such works as angels do, would it not be
Christ-like work, to seek every opportu.
nifty to brighten and bless that life? Do
not wait till the eyes are closed, the ears
deaf, and the arm stilled. Do it nov.
Post mortem kindnesses do not cheer.
Flowers on The coffin cast no;fragranee
backward over the weary days,-Rey.s u.
r. Miller. 4 es,l