Daily Republican., 1889-02-19
FLOWERS THAT DO NOT WITH n
pY PELLE cHRIsHoLM.

"To-day's mail brought me photo
graph Of the floral decorations THAI were
heaped so profueely upon my sisters cof-
fin" said my neiehbor over the way,
week after she had returned from her
SISTERS funeral. "For beauty and rich
ness they could not have been SURPASSED,
but Wish you rs friend TO remember
that want no such display at my burial.
! would much lrefer 20 have some OF the
flowers sirown along my pathway while
am alive"
"Perhaps your SISTERS Hes Journey
wended among the fragrance of roses /
suggested, for the bitterness OF my
friends words panied inc deeply.
sit was among roses whose perfume
could not be enjoyed for the prickling OF
their thorDs, then" she answered with a
shiver, poor Mary's life was none OF the
brightest, i do assure you. She lived In
q grand mansion aud bad everything that
heart could wisl--exeept love aud appFe-
citation. There Is such - thing as spen.
did misery, and that poor woman under
stood it's meaning. John Cos2rove had
bows and smiles IN plenty for the world,
but when he cut, red his owe door he LEFT
all his graclousness outside. Like many
another man, his marriage vow relating
to flowing and CHI rlshng' was but poorly
KEEP. Mays children grew up head
strong and selfish, taking all her love
ard eelf-sacriRce as a matter OF course,
never realizing until they looked upon
her dead face what friend she had be n
10 hen.
John gems TO mourn her loss sincere
ly now, hut all The flowers he can hear
upon her coffin, and all the eulogies be
can cause to be inscribed upon her cGstl,
monument, will not bling peace 10 his
troubled mind, or in any way atone for
the wounds inflicted upon the warm,
loving heart, now so still aud cold under
the snow.
| "Mary IA at rest now. trust she ia al
home with her Saviour, but If half the
trouble that wns taken TO make her fune-
raj a sue ess had en- expended In max.
ing her pathway ihra ugh life more pleai-
ant, the bitterness OF parting would have
been less poignant; aud 1t may be that
the heart which has now ceased to thro1
with pain or joy, might have been kept
beating on for years to come, had flowers
instead of thorns lined her way"
As my friend took her departure, said
to myself, "Ah, poor Mary Cosyr, We Il
not the Obly wife who has gone down L
Wv kihNt WIN tIAt VI h'ui
unsatisfed; nor is hGrs the first coiilI
that has teen covered With flowers ID
tue vain hope Of e-sing an accusing con
science.
A'asl that mary Of the sweet song
which burtt from g!lded cages should
come from bi DIS imprisoned behind theii
shining bars; and many wives, regardless
OF the iair words SPOKEN at the altar. a..
pinlng nway-dying slowly, but surely
for lack vi appreciation.
Do not let US keep our sweet spice
sealed up for the burai OF our dear one.
rAh let u. Mary Ike, ammo nj then
beforehand with our kind words ant
loving deeds. Better funeral without 1
flower, Il grave without a monument
than u lie stripped OF all the twctt, ten
der ministries Of Lowell To the wing lie
us give our smiles aud tears; then, when
loved onts are called TO 20 on little wa!
ahead Of us In the heavenly country, WI
can whisper farewell .amoog the shadow
knowing that We shall meet again In tn
morning.