Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-08-07
Refreshment of Real sympathy.


There was an old Negro woman, some
twenty years ago, in North Carolina, who
was called by Union prisoners and Con-
federate conscripts as we'll "Cheer up
Honeys" and ''Glory day." Sometimes
they called her by one name, and some
times by the other, but generally by both,
as kind of double description of the
humble saint Because every day, when
prisoners were marched into the stockade,
or conscripts were halted within her
reach, she stood at the gate or hobbled
along the line of wornout and suffering
men, and with the music of Christ's own
sympathy in her voice she cried in the
ears of all: "Cheer up, honeys, glory day
is comingp How she refreshed theml
Why, they coined laugh out of their
sorrows with the very name with which
they saluted her.
There are wants of the soul and hun
ger of spirit which can never be satisfied
with the bread which one may purchase.
There is loneliness of heart which no full
ness of material resources can remove.
There are wounds and bruises of men, of
women, and of children that must have
something better than pence, that fur
nish oil and wine for the victim half-dead
by the wayside. There are sorrows
where contributions can only be mock
cry and the adding of chains to the cap
tive. Nicodemus does well to bring his
costly gifts of spices and fine linen for
the burial But what has he of cheer
and sympathy for his suffering Lord 1t
would have been better, Nicodemus, if
you had last night followed the Nazarene
to the olive garden, and helped the dis
ciplcs to watch, and brought them re-
freshment when their hearts were so
heavy with sorrow that they could not do
their duty. Joseph, the rich Arimathean,
does well to open his new tomb, pre-
pared at so much cost, and give the body
of his Lord a resting place away from the
public gaze. But will he bring gold to
the weary sufferer on the Cross, or to
Gods Lamb that has fallen in the street2
1t would have been better, Joseph, had
you gone down into that bowling mob
and helped to bear the Cross with your
stronger shoulder; or if you had taken
your place along with John and Mary
and the other women, where the dying
Sacrifice might be refreshed by your
presence.
There arc sufferers who need us, no:
ours. They arc abundant, end all about
us. They may be found where least we
are looking for them, and with the small
est effort we may refresh them with all
the fresh air they need. Years ago, one
dark, clustering night, was awakened
in the middle OF the night by a warm
little hand which was gently pressed
upon my face. reached out in the
darkness, and found my precious little
boy, whom long since God took to Him.
self. He was standing by my bed and
trying to lay his head beside mine on my
pillow. said: ''My dear boy, what is
the matter2 Why are you out of your
bed2 What is the matter2"
He answered in whisper, Nothing,
papa"
''But what do you want2" l said.
II want you," he answered, with a
sob that shook his little body, and very
soon shook mine. He soon grew quiet,
and said: my child, are you sick2'
NO." he said.
''Are you hungry Don't you want
something's"
NO." he said, with his lips pressed to
my car; 81 just want you; it is so dark. :"
Brethren, there are thousands of Gods
lonely children that have crept from
their resting place, and are wandering in
the dark, and it is so dark. They want
you. They want nothing but you. Give
yourself to them. How near TO God they
will bring you if you search them out
diligently and refresh theml Their
prayers will crowd the gates of Gods
mercy, and bring you mercy in that day.
God help us all to refresh his needy
oncsl--The Rec. s. G. Logan. d. d.