Bitter Words

Ah, me! these terrible tonpues of ours, Are we half aware of thelr muglc powers? Do we ever tronóle our hcuds at all Where the lest may strike or the hint mny fa II T The lntest cliirp of that "Illtle blril," Thut sptcy story 'y(u must have heard" - Welerk thein away In ourgosslp rash, And s 'inrtioily's glass, of course, smash, hut lunus have heen blastod And broken, Wliat pestlleul slnks have been itlrred, lly a word In lightness spoken, By ouly au ldie word. A sneer -a shrug- a whtsper low- They are polsoued shafts from un ambushed bow. Shot by thecoward, the fooi, theknavo, They pleree the mail of the greatnnd brave ; Valn is the bucklerof wisdom and pride To turn the pitlless polnt nslde; The lip may curl with a careless smile, Bilt ttie heart dlps blood- dips blood the whlle, Ah, me ! what hearts have been broken, What nvi-t'-. of blood have been stlrred, By a word In mal ice (.poken, Hy ouly a bitter word. A klndly word and a tender tone- Toonly Qod is their vlrtne known ! They can lift trom the dnst the aliject head, They can turn a foe to a frlend lnstfiul ; The heart close-barred with passlou and prlde W1I1 flliiK at thelr knook lts portal wlde, And iheTiate tluit bllghts and the scoru that scars. Wlll melt In the fountaln of chlldllke teara. W hut lee-bound grlefs have been brokeu, What rlvers of love have been stlrred, By a word In kindness spoken, By ouly a genlle word.