Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1898-05-25

I
all the tunes on one strings. The hui
man soul Is an instrument of "A thou
sand strings. and all sorts OF emotions
were made TO play on it Now an an
'hem' now "A dirge. IL is no evidence
OF weakness when one is overcome of
sorrow. Edmund Burke was found in a
pastnreheld with his arms around a
morse neck earessing him. and some one
SAID; Why, the great man has lost
MS mind" No; the horse belonged to
ms son who had recently died; and his
great heart broke over the grief. tits
no sign of weakness that men are
overcome of their sorrow. Thank God
Tor the relief of tears. Have YOU never
been in trouble when ycu could not
weep. and you would have given any
thing for cry? David did we'll when
he moTrncd for Absalom. Abraham
did well when he bcmoaned sarah
Christ wept for Lazarus. and the last
man that want To see come anywhere
near me when have any kind of
trouble is worldly philosopher.
Again. | remark that those persons
are incompetent for the work OF COM
fort bearing who have nothing but
cant 20 offer. There are those who
have the idea that you must s-roan
over the stressed aud afflicted. There
are tims IN grief when one cheerful
face oa~ aing upon a mans soul is
worth $1,000 TO him. DO not whine
over the afflicted. Take the promises
OF the Gospel, and utter them in A
manly tone. DO not bc afraid TO smile
II you feel like IL DO not drive any
more hearses through that poor soul.
DO not tell him the trouble was fore
ordained; u will not be any comfort
TO know that 10 was 200. 600 wears
coming. If you want TO find splints
Tor broken bone do not take cast
iron. Do not tell them IL is Gods
justice that weighs our grief. They
want TO hear of Gods tender mercy.
In other words, do not give them AQUA
fortis when they need valerian.
Again remark: that those persons
are poor comforters who have never
had any trouble themselves. A lark
spur can not lecture on the nature OF a
snowflake, and those people who have
always lived in the summer OF pros-
perity can not talk 10 those who are
frozen in disaster God keeps aged
people in the world. / think. for this
very work of sympathy. They have
been through all these trials They
know all that which irritates and all
that which soothes. IL there are men
and women here who have old people
in the house, or near at hand. SO that
they can easily reach them, congrat-
ulate You. Some OF us have had trials
in life and although we have had many
friends around about us. we have
wished that father and mother were
still alive that we might go and tell
them. Perhaps they could not say
much, but IL would have been such a
comfort 20 have them around. These
aged ones who have been all through
the trials OF life know how TO give
coincidence.
Cherish them; let them lean on your
arms, these aged people. II when YOU
speak to them. they can not hear lust
what you say the first time. when you
say IL n second time do not saw IL
sharply. II you do You will be sorry
for IL on the day when you take the
last look and brush back the Silvcry
locks from the wrinlSled brow Just be-
fore they screw the lid on. Blessed be
God for the old peoplel They may not
have much strength TO go around, but
they are Gods appointed ministers OF
comfort 10 a broken heart
People who have not had trial them
selves can not give comfort TO others.
They may talk very beautifully and
they may give YOU a great deal of
poetic sentiment. but while poetry is
perfume that smells sweet. il makes
very poor salve II YOU have n grave
/ in r.ufh L.
and covers IL all over with flowers. IL
is "a grave yet Those who have not
had grief themselves know nos the
mystery ofa broken heart. They know
not the meaning Of childlessness. and
they having no one 10 put 20 bed at
night, or the standing in room where
every book and picture and door
are full OF memories-thc door mat
where she sat, the cup out OF which
she drank-the place where she stood
at the door and clapped her hands
the odd figures that She bbled-the
blocks she built into a house. An. no.
you must have trouble yoaEself before
you can comfort trouble in others. But
come ell We who have been bereft and
We who have been comforted in your
SORROWS, and stand around these at
fiicted souls and say TO them: Il had
that very sorrow myself God com
forted me and He VIII comfort YOU
and that will go right 90 the spot In
other words 20 comfort others we
must have faith in God practical o,1-
perience and good, sound common
sense.
But there are three or four consider
atoms tina, ! will bring 20 those who
are sorrowful and distressed and that
we can always bring 20 them, knowing
that they will effect "a cure. And the
first consideration Us that God sends
our troubles in love. otter hear peo-
pie In their troubles say. why j
wonder what God has against mc?r
They seem 60 think God has some
grudge against them because trouble
and misfortune have CONF Oh. mo-.
DO you not remember that pas
sage OF Scripture: Whom the Lord
loveth lie chastcncth?H a child
comes In with a very bad splinter
in its band, aud you try 90 extract &c.
IL is very painful operation The
child draws back from you. but Won
persist You are going % take that
splinter out. so you take that child
with gentle but firm grasp. for ai-
though there may be- pain iu it the
splinter must come out And it is love
that dictates 80 and makes you per.
sist Ny friends / really think that
all our SORROWS in This world are only