The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-03

of Uncle Ed. Crews. while en- route
to Fremont to see his sister. The
visit was to my house, and you have
il just as he related it to me. before
his excitement had entirely subsidized.
His visit was to my wife VINO was
daughter of James A. Crews, brother
of Uncle Ed q niece, therefore, In
stead of q sisted Uncle Ed. was u
grand man. He was both ugly and
good looking Put my name
down for a copy of your book. May
you be permitted many years to serve
the people,"
Thank you, Brother Best. for the
correction; but especially for the kind
words with which you close. / had
rather have a single bud of cheer,
while living, than to have a cart load
of flowers strewn on my grave after
1 am dead. Life would be happier ii
the good things which are said about
the dead were said to the living. /
have no objection to wreathes, crosses
and crowns on graves, but the OBJ
lection l make is to the absence of
flowers in life, when beauty and fra
GRANGE would soothe the troubled
heart. and soften as Well as sWeeten
the stern realities of this earthly ex-
istence. Sometimes I see an abund-
anoe of sweet flowers laid upon a
grave, and l gay, What wonderful
show of sympathy" A week ago,
when that man was living. the tongue
could not speak nor the pen write
anything too harsh or bitter of him.
But, now that he is dead, and Sympa-
thy can do no good, hands that would
not have offered a drink of water to
him while living, bring flowers to lay
upon the lifeless form that cannot APP
preciate the gift.
of OH orG n
a very sad thing which occurred many
years ago. Two men were estranged
from each other by some business
transaction. and. in the course of time,
the breach widened until they be-
came open enemies, ceaSing to speak.
One of the men was taken sick, and
grew worse, and still worse until he
realized that death was very near. He
sent for the other to come to see him
that they might become reconciled be-
fore he died. But the other would
not come. He refused to comply with
The dying mans request, hut nursed
lis wrath until the man was dead
and reconciliation was impossible. And
when he could neither do nor say
anything that would benefit the man
physically or mentally, because he
was dead. he was one CT the first to
send flowers to lay on the lifeleSS
body, as we'll as one of the most ac-
tive in making preparations Tor ms
burial; thinking, seemingly, that such
gifts and services would atone for ms
unforgiving spirit toward the dying
man. But, alas! Many years have
gone by: vet, he with the unforgiVing
spirit. has never been able to realize
the pardon Of his sins. He is a pros
porous business man, but very mis-
cradle one. The words of the Lord,
IF We forgive not men their trespasses
neither will your Father forgive your
trcspasses," are ever staring him III
the face, and this terrible thought is
haunting him: eff I would not for
give a dying man, how can L expect
God to forgive me?'.'
Come to think of it seriously, this
life is too snort for us to be revenge
full and unforgiving. In fact. 1T is ex-
ceedingly dangerous for us to harbor
malice-to be enemies or even TO be,
unkind. Loving God ind loving our
neighbor is the divine law, in a nut
shell. And, if we love each other, why
not let each other know it while we
are living?
Love is the greatest thing in the
world. Notwithstanding some of the
old-time debating societies used to de-
eide, after the question had beers
Iengthily discussed. that hatred would
make a man go further, do more, sui
fer more and endure more than love.
it is true. nevertheless. as st. Paul
states it, "Love is the greatest the
all-eonquering passion.
There is a wonderful moral in the
tabled contest between the wind, the
rain and the sun. in making man
take off his jacket. The wind said
he could blow it off; but, no sooner
did it let loose on the man than did
he begin to button it tighter. The rain
laughed at the winds failure and
said: Let me try my hand" So down
came the big drops, when the man
turned UP his collar and began to
SILVER. Then out came the bright
face of the sun wreathed in smiles.
and soon the man unbuttoned his coat
and off it came. Yes love cOnQuerS
when hatred has spent it's fury and
failed. Love, according to st. Paul, is
a wonderful compound. He says it
"suffepeth long and is kind. vaunteth
not itself, is not pulled up, doth not
behave itself unseemly, skeeth not its
own, is not easily provoked. thInketh
no evil: rejoiceth not in iniquity, but
rejoiceth in the truth. beareth all
things, believeth all things, endureth
all things. Love never faileth. Pro-
phesies may fail, tongues may cease
and knowledge may vanish away, but
love will endure forever" God is love,
most, and he would love most is
happieSt
But how few people in this world
are happy The rich are not happy
/ doubt if riches ever made single
mortal happy. Solomon said it was
all vanity and vexation of spirit ana
he was the richest man of all the
monarchs of his day. / always dld
feel sorry for Solomon. He began lie
under the finest auspices a young mar
ever did, before or since, but made
the most tremendous failure. If we are
TO credit his statements in the first
chapters of the book of Ecclesiastes,
wherein he tells us that he tried every
imagina BILE device to please himself,
and to become happy. He sought wis
dom and obtained it. becoming the
wisest of men. He INDUCED in wine
and mirth; he planned great works
built houses, planted vineyards, made
gardens and orchards, planted all
kinds of fruit trees; made pools of
water to water his gardens, and had
more fine cattle than all the people
i'm Jerusalem; gathered silver and gold
and the peculiar treasure of kings
whatever that was): had men and
women singers and bought all kinds
of musical instruments, and, as he
concludes his statement, whatsoever
lis ewes desired he kept not from