Osage Valley banner., 1880-04-01
"siIenoe Is Goldcn.n


Words spoken in season are OF the
greatest value; but now and then, even
with oar best aud dearest, there come
seasons when the Gift OF silence Is far
more to be desired than the most royal
gift Of eloqnence.
With almost every one there will
arise something that tempts TO dispute;
when % refrain from reply would be
the better As well as she harder way,
when even ga son answer" hasn6t half
the power Of perfect silence.
With the ignorant and passionate Il is
not only useless, but the widest folly TO
dispute We doubt IL solomon, with all
his wisdom, was in the most trustwor-
Thy state Of mind when he advised 20
"nnswer fool according to his folly. ="
With great Sclf-control sensible people
may dispute or disagree over points of
interest, and vet not forget the laws Of
kindness and common sense. But to
attempt to answer ga fool according TO
his folly is to descend TO his level
In the household there are many
things which demand forbearance and
a good stock of patience. In large
family hardly an hour goes by but little
shadows cross the horizon which tri-
fling irritation might change into dark
clouds, threatening storm; yet by
g setting watch over the door Of the
mouth" they pass over without fall
ing shower.
The wife, more than any one, should
have full possession of the crowning
household grace Of silence Men are
90, l.. l.
while tkey love strongly and faithfully
they do not depend on the daily ont
ward expression of il as much rs wom-
en- do. 4 loving wife can forget her
own bodily need 70 cater for the taste OF
minister To the comfort Of these she
ioves. But these expressions Of affec-
ton and tendsruess she can not dispense
with without suffering boss Ehey are
her life. With them hor nature ex-
pauds, hroadens, becomes richer and
nobler; without them She withers and
becomes greatly impoverished. Some
husbands little know how quickly their
wives may deteriorate and become
mere cold mechiues if they pass heed
lessly on their way, forgetting the heart
famine they leave at home.
But no matter how much wife Graves
gentle attentions and loving notice,
IL is better that she should teach herself
10 know the great strength she may
command by silence mot unamiable
silence, but that which gently tends up.
ward toward peace, and its patient
continuance wilt sometimes open q hus-
hands eyes 90 bis uninteutional neglect
and make him love and honor his wife
all the more for equiet lesson she has
taught him. There are times in mans
life, far more than in woman's when
any reply 10 careless rcmarks, or, com
plants of inattention or seeming neg
lect, would be unwiso and threaten
trouble. asa
Can you effect a change by constant
repiningp Does not that mood enhance
the evil and risk, changing carelessness
now and then into a settled indiffer-
enceP And by expostulations, com
plants and perhaps reproaches, does
not a wife endangor her own l9veP
While that shines undiminiShed there IL
always hope that the "dovc Of peace
and promise win yet fold its wings
and take up It's abode there, and the
last days of that household he brighter
and more lovely than tho first.
Try the virtue Of silence, when Tempt
cd 30 "last speeches, and see II it viii
not do moro to lift the cloud than the
bitter invectiYes which wounded pride
and irritatod love are sure tn utter
The first, faithfully acted upon, brings
hope OF better times; the latter, ii not
at once and forever dismissed, is sure
destruction of all true love and domestic
peace Baptist Weekly.