p. 9 | The Word of Praise

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Feb 9, 1911

The Word of Praise

“What’s wrong?” said the paper-hanger, snappily, at his end of the telephone. All day he had heard nothing but complaints, and one man of his force was home with a sick mother, and the rest were so driven with work that the paper-hanger fairly scowled into the receiver.

Then the clerk saw his face change. Over his worn countenance flashed a look of rest and satisfaction. “Thank you, ma’am,” went his answer. “It’s very kind of you. We’re much obliged. We’re very glad.”

“Big order?” asked the clerk, as the paper-hanger turned to him.

“Better than that,” said the proprietor. “I can get orders any day, but I never got the like of this before. Why, it’s that Mrs. Brown whom we had such hard work to suit over the shade of green for that sitting-room, and she just called up to say that she’s delighted with it, and that everybody admires our work. ‘Nothing wrong,’ says she, ‘all very nice, indeed, and much obliged for the great pains you took, and thought you’d like to know we’re enjoying it so much.’ Well, she is a lady, and no mistake.”

Appreciation for a kindness shown, whether it is a business kindness or a friendly one,—and the two are not far unlike,—is due from every one of us, and is as true debt as that of money itself. It can not take the place of an unpaid money debt, but neither can cold cash in any degree take the place of genial appreciation expressed in plain words, such as every one of us has at his command. It is far more rare than gold, far more lasting than gold in its effects. He who fails to give it freely fails in justice as well as in generosity.—Selected.