The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-06-28
Hasty Words.

Sharp, cutting words they were, twitched
out with spiteful jerk, in bitter tone:
and Harry Somers arose from the break
fast table with the air of an offended lord
He did not notice the imploring, half timid
glance cast up at him; he did not see the
fearful eye, or the quivering lips, for he
only seized his hat, rushed out, shutting
the door behind him with furious slam.
The morning grew very dark about her,
his patient, self sacrificing wife, as she sat
there alone-the morning that might have
been so bright; and all the day long the
the shadow of that cloud hung heavily
about her, and the sound of those cruel
words rang in her ears, filling the hours
with bitterness.
They were hasty words, the offspring Of
moment s impulse, for the man who ut
tuered them was not really unkind at heart
He loved his wife with an ardent devotion,
and would have periled life itself, if need
be, for her comfort. But, alas! like many
another, he had suffered the breath of a
discontented and fault finding spirit to taint
his soul till his thoughts and inclinations
had grown selfish, and even the tones of
his voice were harsh and unfeeling. Out
in the crowded streets he was drifted, from
the home scene where he had left the
blight of his whitening breath, far from
the recollections Of those bitter words that
were written in frey lines that scorched
through and through, drying up the
fountains of joy. Poor Ellen Somers
Oh, earth is filled with the echoes of
just such cruel words There is many a
life darkened by their shadows, many a
heart grown sad and sore because of their
heavy, grinding weight.
Men utter them carelesssly to their wives
and sisters. Alas that human lips can
thoughtlessly frame words like these
utter them carelessly, scattering the pois-
onous seeds, and leaving it to spring up
and bring forth lis deadly fruitage. And
then, when the home air becomes tainted
and the house lights darkened, they won
der at the esolation-wonder and com
plain, perhaps.
Mothers speak sharp, impatient words
to their children, and marvel if, by-and-
by, their dispositions become soured, and
their character distorted. Friends utter
them to friends, and then in little while
they stand against over the ruins of their
hopes and loves. Yes, men let them fall
upon the ears of their fellowmen- them
fall quick, and sharp, and piercing and
then are astonished that the world often
turns it's cold shoulders upon them, that
their presence is not always priced.
If we SOW tares, shall we expect to reap
nothing. but wheat ? Do men gather
grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles No
wonder that the pages of our life-b books
are all blotted and stained. But is it not
strange that we are so slow to learn in this
great school of humanity--that we keep
rushing on and on, with our eyes closed to
the lessons that are written out all above
us? Is it not strange that we are too blind
to see the unloveliness and sin of these
hasty words
The ruin and desolation which they bring
lie scattered all along the wayslde OF our
life paths. Sweet joys withered by their
hot breath, bright hopes blown far away,
precious love dried in their fountain, fond
hearts torn and writhing-such is only a
part of the price we are paying for the
thoughtlessness, for the deadly blows we
are dealing with those rash, unfeeling
words
One by one, the words we utter fall
upon the air, making little waves strike
our ears; and then are gone; but there are
those who tell US that they only swell out
in widening circles, like the rippling waters
when a pebble strikes their surface, swell
on and on, but are never lost Who, then,
may know whether, some time in the great
hereafter, our faculties, quickened and
sharpened by Immortality, shall not stand
face to face with the utterance of our
earth lives?