Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-03-22

a E8n3saDs Wer4s . KTew4s s@tles
NJ VIZ.
A sunbeam the echo Of the day
kings smilel
How sweet. how soothing IS lis IN.
Eiuenee!
How gratefully the timid violetbasks
in It's presence and the bright rose re-
eeiyes with imperial grace iss esress.
a sunbeam message from God.
EIow softly il touches the sleeper's
brow. bringing beauty to the sick room
and filing the invalId's hesrt with mem
cries of long aeo. telling of Heaven and
beguiling weary lcneIy hoaFs.
0f what priceless WORTH what inex.
pressibIe comfort % the captivess heart
are TIE Mohbeasns thEa peep into Bis
cell as if to bid him despair not. Lit
tie fairies are they, casting over him Q
spell, making him free once more. On
the wings Of Imagination he is borne
aloft; the shackles that bind alike bis
spirit and form are eas tasIde and sweet
thoughts make music in his soul.
Only q word-and what is word :
A thought expressed.
Only a word, and yet perchance il
snapped in twain the silken cord Of
Friendship, the golden bond Of Love.
Weary years OF anguish, lonely hours
of gloom. broodings over "the might
have been" are the effects Of little
word in bitterness spoken. Banners
that might have proudly waved with
Excelsior inscribed on them are furled
or trailed in the dust at the command Of
that Proteus-a little word Of ill-timed
reproof, OF careless sarcasm or ungen-
efous suspicion.
Only a little word in kindness said,
yet il made the sad eyes brighten, the
pale cheeks flush, soothed the aching
heart, gave strength to the weary, re-
newed hope TO the despairing and turned
back the feet that were Fastening 10 the
tomb or even 10 destruction.
A little word, yet It unsealcd the
fountain, causing tears OF penitence to
bedew the faded virtue-howers, making
the soul once more garden fair.
A little word, yet il stayed the muir
derer's uplifted arm. a little word,
still IL awakened sleeping Conscience.
A little word, yet TO starving hearts
more precious than earth's goods. A
little word, still to tired eyes revealing
the glory of Thabor. Only Q little word
TO be said
And the cares that infest the day
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs
And as silently steal away"
A word, a little word, talisman of
good or evil. Angel-messenger Of mer-
cy or, Attila-like, spreading ruin and
desolation.
Only frown, but il put out the light
Of Joy in some heart; il made lips quiv-
er, bowed some bright head; turned
back the timid Just entering the narrow
path, transformed this beautiful world
into a gloomy prison house; hushed the
merry voice Of the little child al play,
making il tell It's pain in tears. 0nly a
frown, vet IL transformed the roses into
thorns, evoked discord in the soul and
thrilled with pain inexpFessible.
Only smile, but oh J. II cheered
some cafe.worn heart, eonsoled the soF-
rowing, gave pleasure to the suffering,
made the star Of Hope TO beam again,
the earth beautiful again.
We all act upon each other, and each
one can be a sunbeam bringing light and
low 10 our neighbor. Hs H.Is
The brightest lives have some rainy
DAYS, some dark days in them. How
precious then the privilege to let in the
sunlight, to convert darkness into light.
10 change discord into melody, to re-
place the sign-msnual Of care by the
smile of contentment.
To woman especially is given the ex-
alted mission Of Turing hearts from the
ScyIIa Of pleasure. the Chsrybdis oi
Care; Of teaching the beautiful lesson
of Faith, Of Hope and Of Charity.
Her tongue should be sacred 20 the
beautiful Offices ordained By Heaven.
So pure should be her iBtgBtioBs---
her thoughts Is TO be incapable ofques-
tioning the motives Of others.
A true wcman has no guile. thinks
evil of no one, deems her sex sacred,
scorns all that savers of deceit, that sp-
proxImates to untruth: never eonde-
seends to form an un6avOrabie judg.
ment, especially OF her own sex. She
il, in q word. strong in her own integ.
riiy and innocence and thinks ell others
50.
Wonderful, almost divine-iike, is her
influence Goz good, and alasl equally
powerful for evil, and get IS It not tObe
feared that some forget they possess
this powerl u is easier to accomplish
the God-ordained mission, sweeterto lei
fall words Of sympathy, ofIove, of hind.
ness, Of gentle counsel, Of charity, 81
generous Interpretation than 10 do 9TH
erwise. For those who turn aside from
the path marked cut BY God, who siOoP
must feel their degradation. An emo
ton Of fself-cODdem1ation must take pos
session Of them, expeIliDg Peace ol
mind, exercising contentnsBt and hap
piness and opening the s0ul-avenues q
the infoads Of iealonay, spite, Of petty
mesnness that enust bring . 5lnsh q
their own cheeks.
Keep then the sunlight ever beaming
This world at best is dark, because W
are only pilgrims sighing for our tEu'
homes. Let woman keep ever befors
her mentai eye hsr true dutgs her sub