A Message from 1897 Brought Back to Life

A kind word, a gentle act, a loving smile, are as so many seeds that spring up to bear fruit.” – Gold Dust

In 1897, a small collection of “golden counsels for the sanctification of daily life,” was published in England under the title Gold Dust. It wasn’t the first time these devotional thoughts and ancient wisdoms found their way in print, as years earlier an anonymous writing had been published in France under the title Paillettes d’Or.

Gold Dust was different from “Paillettes,” and was not just a verbatim translation. That is because the book’s editor Charlotte Yonge, an eminent Victorian author who was fluent in French, had personally sifted through the original work and selected many passages that emphasized her deeply held view of the transcendence of the mundane challenges of daily life into spiritual truths and victories.

“Gather these little counsels,” Yonge wrote, “and let them penetrate deep into your heart and then scatter them again that they may go with their good words to the help of others.”

I came across this little book quite by accident and not during my work as a librarian, but at an impromptu yard sale where I saw it laying on the ground on a large blanket. The sparkle of the gold embossed lettering that read Gold Dust caught my eye. I picked it up and opened it to the center image of Jesus. 

This book has been my constant companion for many years and I go to it often when I need an uplifting message.

There is no greater deed than to share our good fortune and wealth with others. Gold Dust has brought both to me, so today I will be sharing some golden nuggets from this worthy little book in Fort Biblio’s U of You. A quick click of this link will take you directly there to read three entries: https://youtropolis.com/city/fort-biblio/u-of-you I do hope you claim the gold!