The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-12-21

demned, while He needed all that
human sympathy and affection could
do for Him, she broke the alabaster
box and refreshed Him with its deli
cious odors. Unlike that noble woman,
we leave our alabaster boxes OF oint-
ment in their hiding places until the
moral hero, the toiler and sufferer for
God and humanity, is dead, shrouded
and coffined. Then, when His eyes
see not, and His ears hear not, and
He is insensible 10 all human esteem
and applause, we bring forth the hid
den treasure and bestow it upon Him.
CASE OF NEGLECT.
Some years ago a good man died in
our community who LETT the imprint OF
his benevolent and Christ-loving soul
in almost every county in the Com
monwealth. He gave all the energie:
of strong and cultured mind, all ol
his material possessions and his whole
life to the cause of truth and right,
eousness. l never saw in any news
paper, secular or religious, a mention
of that mans work. | never heard
from any human being, save solitary
Christian woman, one word of appre-
citation Of the long and heroic service
which that dear old man rendered to
his God and country. But when he
died hundreds came to do him honor.
They gathered around his cold and
senseless form and recalled the favor:
they had received at his hands, the
inspiring and comforting sermons he
had preached the strengthening words
he had spoken to them when they
were ready to faint in the battle o
life, the many selt-denials he had
made and the beautiful Christian deeds
he had done to help and cheer the
poor and neglected. They brought
floral tributes, as pure and white as the
light of Heaven, and laid them upon
the casket that contained his silent
senseless form.
There was nothing wrong or inap-
propriate in these tokens Of respec,
and gratitude for the dead man.
love to see flowers laid upon a coffin
They seem to be the httest emblems
of the hopes we cherish for our beloved
dead l love to see sorrowing one:
gather around the mute form of de-
ceased friend and tell of his many
virtues and noble deeds. But as
watched the things done over the
dead body of that old servant of God,
how | wished that some of those bright
flowers had been scattered along the
pathway of his struggling life; thai
some of those alabasler boxes had been
emptied upon him in the days of his
WEAKNESS and sorrow, and that some
of the plaudits spoken over his dead
and pulseless body had been whispered
in his ear while he was yet staggering
under the burden and heat of the day.
That old Christian minister is not
an exceptional case. There are mill
ions just as true and faithful as he,
going through life without ever hear
ing a word of gratitude, or cheer OF
generous commendation. They hear
criticisms unkind and cruel, and many
expressions of disparagement, but
scarcely a word of approval or appre-
citation. If kind things are said about
them they are spoken where they will
never reach their ears. Those who
know their worth are waiting for them
to die before they lift up their voices
in recognition of their virtues.
THE HEROIsN OF POOR WOMEN.
There are poor women in this
church who, besides doing all the
drudgery of their homes during the
day providing for the comfort of hus-
band and children, sit up late at night
and, with tired hands, make garments
for the poor and destitute of their
neighborhood. We extol to the skies
the munificent gifts of a Vanderbilt or
a Rockefeller, but say unto you, they
are unworthy of mention in compari-
son with the self-denials and heroism
of those toilng women, for whom the
world has not one note of applause. l
tell you, these are Gods uncrowned
queens, and when the day of their cor
onation comes we shall esteem it an
everlasting honor to sit at their feet.
Why not recognize these heroes
now? Why not tell them how noble
they are? Why not put the laurel on
their brows now, when they need the
encouragement of human sympathy
and appreciation? Why not speak
approving, cheering words while their
ears can hear? What will they care
for these things when they are cold
and stiff in death -?
" What help in comrades bug blast
When the peril of Alpine heights is past
What need that the squirting paean roll,
When the runner is safe beyond the goal ?
When worth is eulogy's blandest breath,
death,
No, no! fyou have but word of cheer
Speak it while | am alive to hear"
The lesson taught by the conduct of
this woman is emphasized in the last
degree by our Lords remarkable
recognition of her kindly ministry.
:" She hath wrought a good work on me.
She hath done what she could. Where
soever this gospel shall be preached
the world, this also which
she hath done shall be spoken of for a
of her." She had encouraged
the heart OF the struggling and weary
Christ, and now He encourages her.
He recognizes and applauds the timely
and beautiful service which she had
rendered Him. He shows her how,
by bestowing a costly gift upon Him,
she had not only comforted and glad
dened His heart, but had made herself
as His gospel and kingdom.
This was encouragement, indeed. 1t
made the good woman realize the dip-