Orleans County Monitor

The love of many people for their friends is more than half lost by not being expressed; or rather, by being expressed too late. They seem to have sealed their hearts for a time, and only break the seal when those they really love have passed away. Their affection is bottled up and kept safely till their friends die: and then they come and open the bottle over the coffin, and waste its fragrance upon the dead. The tears shed at funerals are sometimes only the painful outgushing of love which ought to have been expressed before: and the sadness which settles down over the souls of the bereaved comes not unfrequently from the remembrance of past affection unexpressed, which if told in season might have made a life more cheerful, a heart less heavy. I once knew a man-a man of middle age, industrious, unselfish, warm hearted, unobtrusive: a friend to everybody and a peace-maker in his neighborhood, quietly fearless in advocating the right modest and firm in rebuking the wrong; a man who was loved and honored by the community, and whose presence was an absolute necessity to the welfare of his family. Yet he seldom heard a word of praise from a neighbor-rarely did he receive an expression of love from wife or child. They all respected him; in their hearts they thought highly of him; and that was all. But this man died suddenly; and then people began to pour out their regards for him. Sighings and moanings filled the house; many tears were dropped on his lifeless face; and his praise was spoken by every one. I could but wonder-and have wondered ever since-at the strange perversity of human nature that can keep affection back unacknowledged and dormant as it were for years, and then pour it out so profusely when it can do no good. If that man could have heard with his own ears a tithe of the praises spoken after he died, how much it might have helped him in doing his work: for he had a harder work to do than many have. If a few of the caresses that were lavished upon his dead body by his relatives had been bestowed upon him while he was alive, how they would have strengthened him to bear his trials, for he had bitterer trials than most people have. Reader, do not fall into the habit of considering this life too busy or too commonplace for the expression of your affection. Do not reserve your acts and tokens of regard till those whom you esteem are where they cannot appreciate them. Love your friends now, and let them know that you love them. Perhaps a heart is aching to-day for want of a loving, helpful word from you. Perhaps a wife, a husband, a little one, is waiting longingly for a kiss. Do not be afraid or ashamed to let your feelings out in this way. Scatter kind words and bright looks wherever you go. Then when friends die your love will have no need to spend itself at their graves in passionate torrents of regretful tears. Do good while you may with your heart as well as with your hands.

NARCISSUS.