St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-11-14

never, never tells me so" she replied with
a passionate sort of wall in the tones of her
voice. I'VE just go on week after week,
eating and drinking. dressing, working and
sleeping, and that is all there is of it. l
often think he would not care if | should
pass entirely out of his life, for he never
seems to notice what do, never speaks
one tender word to me any more"
And yet he did care; but it was simply
habit he had fallen into, and unless shocked
into realization of what he was doing, the
days would go on and on, and the cOnvic-
ton of his Indifference would grow deeper
and deeper, until the love would go out in
her heart for aye. And then it would be
too late!
l shall never forget the glow of pleasure
that used to irradiate the plain, stern face
of man | knew. at some unexpected word
of fondness or caressing action from the
wife he loved, whose only sin was
omission from sheer careleSsness. And
then. suddenly, he folded his strong arms
across the stilled heart, and his ears were
deaf to her voice, and her touch had no
power to awaken him to life. Then how
she regretted the lost opportunities
This is the cruel cross of life to be
Full visioned only when the ministry
Of death has been fulfilled, and in the place
Of some dear presence is but empty space.
What recollected services can then
Give consolation for the might have bee n?
Surely the poet who wrote the lines
have quoted had living realization of the
pain which ''the silences" had cost.
1t is not only those that are welded who
forget to keep the fires of affection brightly
burning by words and deeds. The gay
Young girl, that strong vigorous youth, both
full of the luxury of living that health and
animal spirits give, Outlines forget the
loving word, the tender caress, to the
mother whose heart has beaten all these
years full measure of hope and pride for
their future. When you feel inclined to be
careless, o, fair maiden and brave youth,
and to give more of thought and care to
those who have never denied self for your
sake. as she has done. remember that the
day is coming when you will stand full
visoned" beside her still form, and think
bitterly, if you have a heart, of the might
have BEEN"
| And yet it is not only young men and
maidens who forget to make the home
hearts glad by loving words and tender &C
tons. Nor is this carelesSneSs confined to
the home circles. Friends mold fast to a
reticence. so far as expression is concerned.
of their kindly feeling toward each other.
| They go on week after week, meeting
often. conscious of the excellencies of which
they do not speak, full of kindness of
thought, which may sometimes, when
chance arises, be put into deeds, but too
often letting ''silences" multiply when it
would be so easy and so charming to bre ak
and to throw them away.
Be not chary of loving words to dear
ones, nor of pleasant, appreciative ones to
those around you. 1t is hard to tell what
the influences of those utterances may be
upon the future of the latter. even though
they be not of those whom you have gath
cred into your heart of hearts.
Faith in the present good. hope for the
future, courage to do and dare-those are
all often inspired by chance expression of
kind appreciation that costs the speaker alb
solutely nothing. l do not mean that we
should overflow with praises that are mean
ingleSs, or utter what is untruthful and mis-
| leading, but that we shall be alert and
! thoughtful, that no moment when kind
words may be spoken shall slip by and
| leave them forever unsaid. We are all too
prone to take things for granted, to Live
beside each other day by day, and speak of
myriad things. but seldom say the full
sweet words" that would have brought
gladness to the heart and sunshine to the
| life of those who may perhaps seem to
have the least need of our ministrations.