The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1877-04-19
G !TIhe 9ursidf.
Affection.

Affection.
Affection is not half so hardly plant
as usually thought. Inasmnch as it is
native to every soil, and grows in other
wise barren spots, many persons, par
ticularly men, believe no absence of
dew, or sun, or rain, will make or mar
it. True, it horrishes under the snow
Of adversely, and the storm of opposi-
tion cannot bear it down. But when
it has once struggled through these
has put forth its rich, green leaves and
unfolded it's delicate blossoms TO the wei
come morning or the radiant noon-it
needs gentle nourishment' and constant
care. Hardy as it seems, 1t is as sensi-
tive as the n1imosa. The foot of
strangers may trsmple it into the earth;
and yet it will bud again with new
beauty and fresher fragrance. But if
the familiar hand that has planted and
tended it, neglects or touches it rudely,
its leaves droop on the instant, and it
is never itself again. 1t may not die,
for its root is deep and strong, but the
dullest eye can see that it has lost its
olden SAVIOR, and that for it the fair face
of the overarching heavens is..changed.
Would that every. ..one understood this.
Then the garden of our life would be
fairer, and the varied valley OF our ex-
perience would be grcener.
Affection is not the hawthorn with
all its sweetness. Nor is it the humble
violet blowing under the hedge and
wasting it's odors on the careless air.
No more is it the farlng peony, de-
manding attention, and displaying its
scentless hues to every gaze 1t is rath-
ther the firm but unobtrusive eglantine,
growing wild and yielding to culture
as well, full Of perfume and full Of
thorns, delighting the sense when 1t is
gathered carefully, and wounding the
hand that seizes it rudely; typ9fylng
beauty and tenderness, passion and
pain. So vigorous and even robust Is
it, that no tempest breaks, no lightning
blasts it. And still its dainty petals OF
pink shrink beneath,,the zephyr's kiss,
and fall before the earliest frost.
How often is affection blighted by
the neglect of those who should cherish
and have cherished it, How are its
sustaining tendrils broken and Its soft
ness crushed by the hand that has for
gotten gentleness from over usage? All
along the highways and byways of life,
plants of affection might be discovered
dropping, withered, dying, if we but
saw them through the glass of sympa-
thy, and with the cunning Of spiritual
insight.
To drop metaphor, a very common
popularity of our nature is to under
value what we possess, ana to long ror
that which is beyond our reach.
This is truer of the affections than Of
aught else. Women love for the sake
Of loving; men for the sake OF being
loved; and they weary of the affection
so generously given, because they be-
lieve it wholly secured. The difference
between lovers and husbands hes been
the theme OF "satirIsts" from time i'm
memorial The former are in doubt,
the latter are convinced of the affection
they have sought. Perfect security
begets carelessness: carelessness neg
lect; neglect Indifference.
Woman will love and be loyal is
death, if man will but foster her love
and loyalty. instead of killing it by
inches with seeming nothings, that, in
accumulation are as the rock of Gibral-
ter Believe-oh, careless son Of
over>faith! that it is much to gain
love, but that it is more to keep it; that
to win o heart involves solemn re-
sponsibilty, and demands its anxious
and chivalrous keeping, till the end OF
all things comes to you! When you
find soul, garner it mp as sacredness
and visit it with all the comforts and
tendernesses that belong to you. Sur
, round it with yonr worship, and sacri-
fee all selhshness at its shrine; for OF
J all the excellences and benisons of life,
! love is chiefest, purest, best.
Have no dread Of being deemed "sen'
timental," since sentiment is among
the fineness of spirit that the rude
world is always tending to destroy. In
terweave the love you have gained will
the love you bear. Braid them toge
ther, like precious braids of tenderness
and strength, OF understanding anC
sympathy, of sweetness and truth o
trust and protection, of perfect giving
, and perfect loyalty: and the inter
mingled strand-the finest chords o
being-will sound, when touched, will
: unvarying music.