Words Of Consolation

Not long ago a lady of San Francisco was suddenly ovjrwhelmed by a great crushing affllction, that, coming like a thunderbolt upon her for a time threatenher life. Her son, and only chüd, had gone on a short business journey, expect ing soon to return, Sudden and fatal illness overtook him, and a brief telegram announced the dreadful tidings lo his neart-broken mother. The terrors of the Oalvinistic creed, in wluch she had been brought up, according to which as she well knew, tbere was no hope of future happiness for the unconvorted yoUDff man, added greatly to her agonizing grief over his death, uutil her friends feared that her reason, il not her life, would be destroyed A lady friend, who had sympathized deepïy with and vainly sought to console her, informed Col. Ingersoll, and begged him, if possible, to write soniethiug which miglit at least relieve in a measure the terrible apprehension as to the fate of her sou under which she was suifering. The following is his letter. It was only upon the representation that, like Col. Ingersoll's widely-published remarks at the funeral of his brother m Washington someyeare ago, these words also might "comfort other hearts which mourn," that a San Franoisco reporter succeeded in oWaining a copy tor publication, with the condition that the name of the recipieut should not be mentioned: Dear M ai l;im : Airs. C - has told me the sad story of your almoat iufinit sorrow. 1 am not foolish enough to suppose that I can say or do anythmg to lessen your great grief, your anguish for his loss; but may be I can say something to drive from your poor heart the tiend of fear - fear for Him. Lf there is a God, let us believe that Ue is good; and if He is good, the good have nothing to fear. 1 have been told that your son was kind and geuerous; that he was ñlled with chanty and sympathy; Now, we know that in this world like begets like, kindness producf s kindness, and all good bears the fruit of joy; belief is nothing - deeds are evcrything; and if your son was kind, he will naturally rïnd kindness wherever he may be. You would not inrlict endless pain upon your worst enemy. Is God worse than you? You could not bear to see a viper sufTer forever. Is it possible that God will doom a kind and generous boy to everlasting pain ? Nothiug can be more monstrously absurd and cruel. The truth is that no human being knows anything of what is beyond the grave. If nothing is known, then it is not honest for any one to pretend that he does know. If nothing is known, then we can hope only for the good. If there be a God your boy is no more in flis power now than he was fore his death - no more than you are at this moment. Why should we fear God more after death than before? Does the feeling of God toward His children change the moment tliey die? Whilu we are alive they say God loves us; when will He cease to love us? Trae love never changas. I beg of you to throw away all fear. ïake counsel of your own hearl. If God exista your heart is the best revelation of Him, and your heart could never send your boy to endless pain. After all, ao one knows. The ministers know nnthing. All the churches in the world know no more on t lus su 1 iji et than the ants on the anthills. Creeds are good for nothing except to break the hearts of the loving. Let us have courage. Under the seven-hued arch of hope let the dead sleep. I do not preted to know, but I do know that others do not know. Listen to your heart, believe what it says, and wait with patience and without fear tor wtat the future has for alL If we can get no comfort from what people know, let us avoid bemg drivvn to despair by what they do not know.QI wish I could] say somethiug that would put a star in your niiit of griet - a little llower In your louely path - and if an unbeliever has suoh a wish, surely an infiuitly good being has never made a soul to be the food of pain through countless jears. Sincerely yours.