Year: 1874

vords about man bottled, and sealed
up until he is dead, when they come and
break the bottle over his coffin and battle
his shroud in fragrance Many man
goes through life with scarcely one bright,
cheering, encouraging, helpful word. He
tolls hard and in lowly obscurity. He
gives out his life freely and unstintedly
for others. l remember such a man.
He was not brilliant; he was not great !;
but he was faithful He had many
things to discourage him. Troubles
thickened about his lie. He was mis-
represented and misunderstood. Every
body believed he was a good man, but
no one ever said a kindly or pleasant
thing to him. He never heard COM
pliment, scarcely ever a good wish. No
one ever took any pains to encourage
him, to strengthen his feeble knees, to
tighten his burdens, or to lift up his
heart by gentle deed of love, or by a
cheerful word. He was neglected. Un-
kind things were often said of him.


/ stood by his coffin, and then there
were many tongues to speak his praise.
Tdere was not breath of aspersion in
the air. Men spoke of self-denials, of
his work among the poor, of his good
qualities, of his quietness, his modesty,
his humility, his pureness of heart, his
faith and prayer. There were many
who spoke Indignantly Of the charges
that faisehood had forged against him
in past years, and of the treatment he
had received. There were enough kind
things said during the two or three days
that he lay in the coffin, and while the
company stood around his open grave,
to have blessed him and made him hap
py all his fifty years, and to have thrown
sweetness and joy about his soul during
all his painful and weary journey. But
his ears were closed then, and could not
hear word that was spoken. His heart
was still then, and could not be thrilled
by the grateful sounds. He cared moth
ing then for the sweet flowers that were
piled upon his coffin. The love bios.
somed out too late. The kindness came
when the life could not receive its bless.
ing.


| And | said then that / would not keep
all my kind words and all my pleasant
thoughts and feelings about my neigh
Dor locked up in my breast till he is
dead. They will do him no good then.
His dead hand cannot feel the warm
J pressure. Gentle words will not make
his pale, cold face glow. 1t will be too
late, when he lies in hia coffin, to seek to
make him happy, to lift the shadows of
his life, or to brighten his path.


1t costs but little to give men great
deal of joy and help. One brought a
bunch of flowers to my table, and for a
whole week they filled my rooms with
fragrance. One wrote mea cheering let
ter, breathing spirit of gratitude and
love. 1t came when was weary and
depressed, and was like the meal pre-
pared by the angel for the old prophet.
| went on its blessed strength for many
days. One met me on the street and
spoke an encouraging word, and grasped
me warmly by the hand; and for hours
| felt that warm grasp, and heard that
word echoing through my soul. A little
child may brighten scores of lives every
day. There is not one of us who NAV
not gladden. and strengthen many heart
between every rising and setting sun.
Why should we not live to bless the liv-
ing, to cheer the disheartened, to sweet
en- cups that are bitter, to hold up the
hands that hang down, TO comfort those
that mourn, to bear joy into joyless
honest Kind words will not spoil a
man. If sermon helps you, it will do
the preacher no harm to tell him so. If
the editor writes an article that does you
good, he can write still better one if
you send him a word of thanks. If a
book blesses you, do you not owe it to
the author to write grateful scknowl-
edgment? If you know a weary or
neglected one, would it not be such work
IS angels do, would it not be Christ.llke
work, toseek every opportunity to bright
en- and bless that life Do not wait till
the eyes are closed, the ears deaf, and
the heart stilled. Do it now. Post
mOrtem kindnesses do not cheer. Flowers
on the coffin cast no fragrance backward
over the weary days. r. Miller, IN
Sunday School Times.


To PRESERVE Flowers. Flowers, at
this season, when a tolerable boquet
/ oosfs from, ono 20 fra 1rll.-z - IL :.