Love and Selfishness Nearly Akin.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2018, 13 June 1885, Page 6 (Supplement)

Love and Selfishness Nearly Akin.

" "Iii, lirtter to have Imcd and lost Than never to liavo loved at all." I have often wondered if the author of the lines quoted above renlly meant what he said, or wrote them merely because 'twas pretty sentiment poetically expressed. Did he ever watch a loved one languish on a bed of pain, and see, with trembling heart, the bright eyea grow dimmer every day, the rounded cheek lose its bloom and beauty, the sweet voice getting fainter and weaker, and to feel so powerless to stay the destroyer's hand, to watch until he has seen the last glances of tho beautiful eyes, or heard the last tones of tlio dear voice, and naught is left him of all he loves but a form of lifeless clay ? And then put that loved one away in the dark, cold ground, and feel and know that never again, till ressurrection morn, will his eyes greet that form again, and saddest of all to the dosolate home, to the "vacant chair and missing presence." To know in all its bitterness that never again will the sun shine so brightly, or the flowers bloom bo sweetly, that never again can come a joy that will not be embittered by thoughts of the " loved and lost." 'Tis true, there is great joy in loving and being loved, and the man who passes through life uncaring and unoared for is pitied by many, but if he misses this happiinees, does he not escape bitter Eorrow and disappointment? This may sound selfish, but dear friends, love in its " last analysis " is but refined selfishness. A harsh truth, but a truth novertheless, else why do we delight to toil and deny ourselves for those wo love ? Not because it adds to their comfort and happiness alone, but really because it makes us happy to watch over and care for them. We could not take all this loving pains and self-denial for an utter stranger, so you see how near akin love and selfishness really are. And I think had the poet analyzed his celebrated couplet, and took it to heart, he never could have truthfully given it to tho world*