Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-09-24

siuefs that u Gusts morning. Nolning
means TO him mo money" Other coin he
has no knowledge of, sets no value upon.
Yet you have given him part of your life,
and it has meant new life and strength 10
him. Does he ever remember it in the fu-
ture, and come TO you, or send to YOU to see
what he can do TO make your life easier,
more comfortable, pieasanter! Does it ever
occur to him that money could not repay
the debt he owes youi Does II ever come
into his mind that be is in your debt at alli
Would he share his money with you. if you
needed IL, "a you shared your sympathy,
courage and strengthi The chances are that
he would no.. Nothing, in his opinion, is
worth anything unless il costs money.
IL there were shops where sympathy,
kind words, encouragement. and other LIFE
giving qualities were bottled and sold. and
could ot lie begged from generous souls, as
is the case now, they would he thronged
with cust omers, who wouldn't hesitate TO
pay any price Tor commodities so precious
and curative. Then they would be valued.
becauss they cost 'something;n that IS,
they would cost monev.
Alexis is a rich. genial, but self h fellow.
who has what is called "a gooi time" His
friend David is sensible enough 10 b. called
philosoqhsr. David likes Alexis for his
good qualities. and overl loXs the bad.
Alexis takes such mad fling az life that he
gets into tronble. is miserable, wretched,
ard dwells in the valley OF despair. To
whom does he go for help AMI comfort' To
his old friends, who drank aud danced with
him! No, TO David. who is thoughtful.
earnest person, with little or no money, and
unlimited sense and wisdom-a companion
able cheerful man, so well poised ia spirit
that the follies and disasters of the world
neither allure nor dishearten him.
He is favored with Alexis mournful
confidence He has the honor Of
lifting him from his slough Of
despond and bringing him back peace. hope
and self-respect. Does this cost David
notbingi He gives the best that is in him
to accomplish it. Thought, strength, pur-
pose go out Of him, AMI are transferred 10
the weak, shattered, disin;egrated Alexis.
and build him up. In truth, David gives
his life, or part of il. He gives his time.
which could be spent in a plea santer way
he does work which none other could or
would do. To il Alexis owes everything.
despair and destruction. At frs; Alexis
bubbles with gratitude. declares he never
can forget it nor repay il, and he is sin-
cere. He realizes then how great is the SER
vice rendered him. He thinK, it will al
ways be as highly coloFel in bis memory.
But time goes on, Alexis p-o1pers, forgets
the pitfalls Of his early years, and forgets
he doesn't forget the fac., but the kindness
fades out to a msre dab of good will, which
csst nothing-a. leas. no money.
Ii he had been obliged 10 pay several
thousand dollars for it he would never have
forgotten IL, and would have considered
himself lucky to get it at any price. The
doctor, the lawyer, the preacher, are paid
for their advice, but the friend who some
times dos more than either one or all three
toward ''ministertng 10 mind disea. ed"
uprooting s1rrows, pointing out pitfalls AMI
imparting spiritual strength. gets neither
gratitude nor reward He doesn't do it in
the hope of any kind of pay, yet he should
be paid That is, the recipient of his kind
ness should give in return fo- what hs has
received.
There is always large percentage of peo-
pie going about seeking sympathetic ears
into which they can pour their SORROWS, real
or imagined. They can't stand alone, ex-
cept in prosperity, and even then they are
apt to be lopsided. They are always look
ing for props to lean upon In the thickest
Of the smoke OF trouble YOU hear
them say: Il must tell Somebody
The somebody they select may be greatly
bored by their confidence, certainly not
benefited, since it is not at all invigorating
to have a CARLOAD of private woe and trouble
dumped into ones ears. Nevertheless they
have no compunction about dumping it, and
probably no gratitude for having been per-
mitted to dump it. They may even think
that the recipient has been well entertained
GEORGE OLSEY MARVIN.
NEW YORK. July 10.