Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-06-07
HOW WE MAY BRING CHEER TO
OUR SHUT-INS.

(The following by Gertrude Corrow
is sent in by the Coventry w. c. T. w.
There is so much that might be said
on this subject. there are so many
ways and means of affording little
cheer and comfort for our less fortu-
nate sister or brother, who is banished
from social intercourse with the world,
outside the realm of home, that what
little one can say in few phrases is
wholly inadequate to compass the cry
ing need. AS we go about fulfilling
the tasks of the day we are uncOn-
scously sowing ideas and ideals around
US as individuals, but as an organiza-
ton we are no less responsible for the
welfare and comfort of others.
In our midst we are SO very fortu-
nate as to have an active union, strong
in purpose to do what is needed for the
national welfare and no less mindful
of the needs of those that are called
in familiar parlance neighbors and
friends, as we can personally testify
when shut away by reason Of i'll
health, the calls from members of our
local union with words of encourage
ment, also beautiful bouquets of flowers
from the Best class of the M. E.
church and o. E. S. of Irashurg, made
the days much brighter. [ would COM
mend highly this form of cheering and
helping the shut-in, and knowing that
each superintendent of the work is
doing her share, that personal attention
and help from each member of the
union would bring much pleasure to
the sick and unfortunate and also help
the superintendent in their endeavor.
We are so prone to be self-centered
that we should try to reach out beyond
our little town in which we live and
not only be friends to our own union,
to our church, to our association, to our
own little Paternity, but we must be
friends to the word, having chain
of institutions formed on friendship.
each in contact with the rest.
Greater love hath no man than this,
that he lay down his life for his friend.
We DO not today so much die for ou1
friends as we live for them, the friend
gives, he does not grab, the dead carry
in their closed hands only that which
| they have given away. The living
carry in their hearts that love which
they bestow upon another.
! l would make an appeal and com
mendation that each one of US make {
personal endeavor, a renewal obliga
ton to search for those that are II
need of a cheerful word, a friendly
call, perhaps a card or letter, realizing
that the desire for friendship is strong
in every human heart. We crave the
companionship of those who under
stand, we long for the presence o.
those who are able to sympathlze, TO-
this surely brings out the best IN al
of US
This little poem, though very old, il
a sweet reminder of what we may al
do.
It isn't the thing you do,
It's the thing you leave undOne,
Which gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.
The tender word forgotten
The letter you did not write.
The flower you might have sent
Are your haunting ghosts tonight.
The stone you might have lifted
Out of brothers way,
The bit of heartsome counsel
You were hurried too much to say;
The loving touch of the hand,
The gentle and WinsOme tone,
That you had no time nor thought for
With troubles enough of your own.
The little acts of kindness,
So easily out of mind;
Those chances to be angels
Which everyone may find
They come in night and silence
Each chill, reproachful wrath
When hope is afaint and tagging,
And a blight has dropped on faith.
For life is all too short,
And sorrow is all too great,
To suffer our slow compassion
That tarries until too late.
And it's not the thing you do
But the thing that you leave undone
Which gives you the bit of heartache
fl At the setting of the sun.