St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-05-31


of the liquor shop ?-Dr. r. L. Osaoald,
in Popular Science Monthly for June.
Kind Words.
BY MRS. HENRY WARD BEECHER.
Acts of kindness, words of love or ap-
probation, if honest and true, are the
cheapest comforts in the world. They
cost the giver nothing, but their value
to the recipient cannot be estimated,
and nowhere is their influence so mag
ical as when they fall upon those who
are Overburdened with hard labor and
many cares. They come to the weary
like refreshing slumber; they cover the
unfinished labors of the day, that a
moment before seemed insupportable
burdens or cruel tasks, with verdure
and blossoms. A gentle word, slight
touch, passing caressingly over the
bowed head or lingering moment on
the weary hand, what power it has
How the crooked places become
straight; the burdens light as empty
air the severe tasks pleasant labors,
and the step so weary and faltering re-
gains vigor and elasticity-for love has
lightened labor
And old song gives picture, true to
nature, of the power of kindness on
those engaged in the most common la
Dor of life. The farmers wife rose one
morning and before her came trOOping
thoughts of all the work to be done
that day. Not taking each duty sepa-
rately, as it must approach her in natur-
al order, she made the mistake so COM
mon to OverwOrked, anxious Marthas,
careful and troubled about much serv-
ing,n of looking at it all at once. The
huge pile of clothes to be washed, the
dozen or more mouths to be fed, the
children to "be fixed off to school," the
milk to be skinned, the cream to be
churned-and all this "to be done in a
day"
'And the day was hot and her aching head
Throbbed wearily as she said,
If maidens but knew what good wives know,
They would be in no haste to we'd"
While thus looking at life and its du-
ties through the dark clouds of dscon-
tent and fatigue, the husband, passing
near her, stopped, and STOPPING down,
smiling, kissed her cheek, saying,
Jennie! you are the best and dearest wife in
town"
A simple act, but mark its power.
"The farmer passed on to the field and the wife,
In a smiling, absent way,
Sang snatches of tender little songs
She'd not sung for many day.
And the pain in her head was gone and the clothes
Were white as the foam of the sea-
Her bread was light, and her butter was sweet
And as golden as it could bel'
When the children came home from
school they told that one of their school
mates, whose parents unkindness made
his home most wretched, had "run of
to sea-"
"'He wouldn't, we know, if he only had had
As happy home as we.'"
And the good wife smiled
To herself, as she softly said,
"Tis sweet to labor for those we love-
No wonder that maidens will we'd"
Now these homely verses teach les.
son which, if fully comprehended
would ward off much misery and bring
light on many homes over which heavy
clouds ale settling. Homes founded
under the most favorable circumstances
are often gradually filed with discon-
tent and repining, especially when daily
bread must be earned by the sweat OF
the brow, and chiefly because the heads
of those homes do not understand that
love is the lever by which the heavy
burdens are to be lifted, and the ex,
preston of it the fulcrum by which it is
sustained and enabled to lift easily
and as the lever loses half its power
without this prop, so we may carry
heavy burdens by exhaustive efforts
but they can be made light and easy
only by the aid of ''little deeds of kind.
ness, little words of love.n A duml
love is not easily interpreted, or of suf-
ficient value to make labor pleasure
but when it expresses itself by words
and acts, it polishes the rusty spots
brightens the dark places, lubricate,
every part of life's machinery, making
it run smoothly. These simple tokens
sweeten the sour tempered, cheer tn,
despOnding, enliven the irritable anC
unite husbands and wives, parents an(
children, brothers and sisters, i'm bonds
that no burdens, no trials, no discom
forts will have power to sunder.
This same doctrine holds good il
mental as we'll as in physical trouble
and burdens. When heavy afflictior
befalls us, and the heart is well-nigl
broken when the darkness settles lik,
pail over us, who can do us any good
No kindness or gentleness can brin,
back our dead no tenderness can TAX,
away the many sharp trials that mus
come sooner or later to all. But lovin:
deeds, few tender words, not obtru
sive or Ostentatious, although at frs
weak, and apparently of no avail, hav,
hidden, healing power directed an,
inspired by the author of love himself.
If parents will teach this doctrin,
both by precept and example to thei
children, they will surely lay the foun
dation of peace and happiness for thei
household. The high and the low, tn
rich and the poor, alike need to ponde
] over this lesson. Riches by no mean
insure happiness, nor can they max
peaceful homes; neither can the rigor
of poverty destroy all the blessednes
of homes, if, at the beginning, love lai,
the foundation thereof.
Swearing.