The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-12-08
MY BOUQUET.

| Qeep III the dumps because or having
been invited to wedding that was tc
come off that day, and circumstances
were such that we could not attend
was surprised and lifted above my
disappointment by receiving a de.
lightful bouquet of flowers, sent by
valued friend, who, unless he was
inspired, could have had no more
idea that l needed little cheering up
just then, than the man in the moon.
I was greatly pleased with the gift,
and the kindness of the giver.
1t would not allow me to forget it
for several days, as its fragrance fill
ed the room, and its beauty attracted
every one that entered. don think
the head of the Sidneys cared much
for the flowers, Sit might puzzle him
trife to tell rose from a cabbage
dfng, an ais sad a. gsttmgs tmsA staas tG4 saas WIS wEsqi
fool caper anyway, and they'd be
wishing they hadn' t next year," But
the scent of the roses fingered with
him, and he asked some ladies to
come see the bouquet, and, "see if
they didn't think he ought to get out
his shot gun and go a-gunning for
that fellow that sent them flowers to
his wife" But the ladies pacifed
him, and as the donor lives long dis
tance away, and we only see him
about once in ten years, he concluded
cit wouldn't pay him to waste pow
der and shot Oh him. So all is
quiet in the Sidney family.
The flowers were simply sent as a
reminder that my pen had struck a
sympathetic chord in him, and he
wished me to know it. 1t showed
the natural kindness of his heart, and
his willingness to encourage me to
keep OH. Everybody knows how it
lightens and brightens ones pathway
to feel that their efforts are some
times appreciated. We are too mis-
erly with those gentle attentions that
cost little or nothing, but are of price
less value to the receiver.
That man who wants to go out to
shoot every time his wife receives
compliment or kindness, should be
careful to point his musket toward
himself before he fires. He should
have a wife that all other men are
thankful for not having.
There is a friendly congeniality in
this world that is above petty jeal-
ousy, and the narrow souls who do
not, and cannot be made to under
stand this, lose great deal that tends
to better state of society. Oh, the
good we all may do, the pleasures we
all may give, if we only look for the
opportunity, and heed the still, small
voice that prompts them as the days
are going by Thus we may be in
spired to know where our roses will
do the most good, where Our words
of praise are needed to cheer some
dropping spirit, or where the "cup of
yv1d watcrp shall be bestowed, for
which the giver shall not lose his re-
ward.
There is no one but needs more or
less of encouragement in this life.
Tribulations beset us ali, and little
praise now and then helps over hard
places. helps to bring out the best
there is in Us, and there is no virtue
in holding back the appreciative word
until death has done its work, and
the heart that needed it has passed
beyond being benefited by human
sympathy. Yet, as much as praise
is needed in the training of youth,
and cheering of mature years, it, like
all other things, must be wisely bes-
towed. To coddle and pet and make
believe something worthy has been
done, when in reality it has not been,
nor even attempted, will tend to pro-
mote inefficiency rather than solid
worth. The virtue that needs stimu-
lating is the effort to make the very
best Of the gifts and talents nature
has endowed us with. Is room to
be swept and busted, it should be done
perfectly, no corners, or under-sofa
places untouched.
Is a pale to be painted, all the
edges should be carefully rubbed, and
the paint be economically used on the
fence rather than shattered on the
ground. Is a bread baked, vegeta-
b1es cooked, or any sort of in or out
door work to be accomplished, let
perfection be aimed at and when a
beginner tries to do the very best pos
sible, he is deserving of praise even
for moderate success. On the con-
trary, If the work is hurried and
s1ighted, making getting through
more of an object than good results,
we lower the standard of good work,
and show our own incompetency to
Judge righteous judgment when we
give unmerited commendation.
The world has more than suffi-
cheney of inefficient, haphazard work.
ers. AS great enterprises multiply,
and great skill and sound judgment
are required to run them, the difficult
ty to man them properly increases.
There are more wrecks, more acci-
dents and loss of life attributed to
careless officials than formerly. 1t
may be that the great strain put upon
men in managing the gigantic and
dangerous affairs of the age, and the
pursuits women engage in requiring
more toll and anxiety than their ply
sical conditions warrant, is deteriora-
ting the race; or, if this be not cor
rect view, then the youth are not be-
ing properly trained to be good and
faithful in their work, but are allow
ed to go on in reckless way until
recklessness becomes a second nature,
and cannot readily be overcome. 1t
is easier to form correct habits than to
break up bad ones; but neither can
he done without a great deal of pains