The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-06

sinful, and our sympathy be their refuge
and strength in time of cOntr1tion and dis
tress? And the same applies to those who
have done us little personal wrongs, Let
us speak the word of forgiveness always
and in season. 1t will do good, great good.
sympathy. 1t is the hardest to speak at
times because we do not know just how to
couch our feelings in language. Fine souls
are apt to represS their emotions when an
other is in deep or sudden sorrow And
yet there is no time when seasonable word
is so very good.
When a soul is in deep aff1iction we do
not need to say much; the simplest ex-
pressions are the best A distant friend,
upon one of these occasions, wrote a letter
as brief as brief might be, but of it's kind
altogether perfect. 1t ran thus: Il have
heard of your great sorrow, and l send
you simple pressure of the hand"
must mention the word of encourage
ment. We all stand in need of this word
especially those of US who have ideals and
are struggling. to reach them. A noble life
is a battle. HOW many of us sit down at
times and ask: What's the use? And then
breathe prayer to God to strengthen us
that we may go on. In hours like these
how kind, loving word braces us up! How
a handshake alters our whole future.
There was John b. Cough. He signed the
pledge and the next morning went to his
work as usual. The workmen did not con-
graduate him, but many Of them told him
he wouldn't keep the pledge; they. even
wagered that he would break it before
night. As the morning wore on the old APP
petite began to clamor, and there was a
great battle on; finally the appetite got the
upper hand and Cough was Just starting
for tho door on his way to the saloon when
an old friend entered and, extending his
hand, said: John, hear you've signed the
pledge / know you'll keep it!'' That word
spoken then, was of all words the needed
one, and Cough went back to his bench
and kept the pledge. Little did that friend
dream what that handshalze and that ex-
preston of trust was to do for John B..
Cough and the multitude who were re-
formed by his lecturing.
VALUABLE WORDS.
That may seem an exceptional case, but
who can tell? A feathers weight is enough
to turn a wavering scale, and no one but
God knows how many lives have been saved
to purity and power by some such word
from a heart that had accustomed itself to
speaking out and saying the right thing at
all times.
Who can estimate the value of the word
Of explanation, of apology, of forgiveness,
of sympathy, of encouragement, If spoken
in due season? And so with the word of
love- There are hungering hearts in many
a home-heartS that once received the ten
der word, the thoughtful word, the loving
word, but receive them no more or so sell
dom as to despair! To such hearts, how
good q word of affection is-a word that
shows the old deep love, a word that brings
up recollectionS of halcyon days bygone and
visions of blssful hours that might be, a
word that sings a song OF JOY, while the
t hands are busy at work and the body IS
by just one word of appreciation: many
tear is held back by just one word of SYM
patty; many sigh is arrested by just one
word of encouragement.
These hungry hearts are not in women's
breasts alone but in mems also; yes, there
are boys and girls who would so much like
TO have word of love from their parents,
their kindred, their friends, their teachers.
On, II we have the love, give IL expression;
let it speak for itself, not alone in deeds,
frequently language.
know the life of even our nearest friend;
we do not suspect the needs that are there,
one of which, perhaps the direSt, might be
applied if we told over the story of our
pure affection and unfailing trust.
Words Of love! | know how some people
pray for them-hunger and thirst for them.
There are homes entered by this paper
where the parent never gets near the child.
simply because these words Of love are
never spoken. and the sympathy and conf
dence they alone can create are never born.
Hence it was that George Eliot said: our
selves from each other behind a screen of
trivial words and deeds; and those who sit
with us at the same hearth are often the
farthest Off from the deep soul WITHIN US
fun of unspoken evil and Enacted good.
If you must repreSs; If you won't express
that which is in you. then repress on every,
thing but this: do open your heart and
make channels for the streams Of love.
Do not let 1.-The sweetest notes among the
human heart-strings get dull with rust"
These are the words of all words whose
sound is music to the heart and mamma to
the soul They are never out OF season.
Seasonable words: spoken thought; ex
pressed feelings Take these suggestions
with you and act upon them. Speak words
of cheer and help to your possibly heart-
burdened mother or wife. sister or brother,
child or friend, pastor or teacher scholar
or servant Strengthen .ye the weak hands;
confirm the feeble knee; say 70 mem tnat
are of fearful heart, BE strong, rear not,
and you may keep these toLtering ones from
falling, and in the end their triumphs shall
be yours.