ove and mercy to
their fellow men. Nothing opens the heart to angels' visits, and shuts
them against the attacks of Satan, like love. Truly it has been said,
"the heart of him who loves, is a Paradise on earth; he hath God in
himself, for God is love."

We are sent into the world to make each other happy, by showing mercy
and kindness. "Some men move through life as a band of music moves
down a street, flinging out pleasure on every side through the air, to
every one, far and near, who can listen. Some men fill the air with
their presence and sweetness, as orchards in October days fill the air
with perfume of ripe fruit. Some women cling to their own homes like
the honeysuckle over the door, yet, like it, sweeten all the region
with the subtle fragrance of their goodness. There are trees of
righteousness which are ever dropping precious fruit around them."
Blessed are those lives which make others better and happier, purer,
and stronger, verily they have their reward.

Again, we can show mercy by _forgiving those who injure us_. Few
things are more talked of, and less practised, than the duty of
forgiveness. This world is darkened by the stinging hail of spite, and
vindictive bitterness, just because people who have been wronged by
others will not be reconciled, will not forgive. If you believe in
prayer, you ask God for pardon every day, but is not that something
like mockery, if you from your hearts do not forgive another's
trespasses? And remember also that forgiveness does not mean merely
abstaining from injuring one who has wronged us. We must try to do
such an one good if we can. Once, after a great battle, an English
officer, accompanied by his orderly, was examining the wounded on the
field. He came to one of the enemy who was badly hurt. "Give him a
drink of water," said the officer. As he turned aside, the wounded man
raised his rifle and fired at the officer, the bullet just missing him.
"Give him the water all the same," was the order of the brave man who
knew how to forgive.

Time would fail me to speak of the many ways in which we may show
mercy. Kind judgment of another's motives, patient bearing with
another's temper, gentle sympathy with another's weakness, noble
self-sacrifice for another's good, all these are signs of the life of
mercy. Let me tell you, in ending, that mercy ever brings its sweet
reward. Each act of lovingkindness comes back to us with abundant
interest. "Good m