The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-01-21
FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
NEIGHBOR.
Ind aoho Is ma nriphL0r ~

leaving the bitter and bad behind, | felt
myself TO he citizen of the world, rather
than the settled inhabtant of any village or
town. The general cast of character and
mould Of fashion in. particular society, and
the aggregate of dgreedbleneSS, or disagree
dbtenesS, in any designated place, was of
little moment to me. In the pursuit glitter
ature and professional knowledge, found
congenial minds, and wanted not opportu-
nifty to indulge in the " feast of reason and
flow Of soul.' There was no tcdium rita,
and when wearied with intense application,
the intellectual banquet could be found
among my famiiars ana friends, exhiirat-
ing the spirits, and renovating the tired
mental faculties.
While | was sojonrner, was frequent
ly indebted to the courtesies. and hospitali
ties of my acquaintance, and enjoyed their
intelligent, refined, and friendly society.
The body and the mind were entertained
with choice aliment. Friendship and po-
likeness united their powers to impart felic-
ity, and life presented its most fascinating
picture. In this garden of delights, some
times remembered | was but a foreigner,
whose time was limited. and must soon pass
away, and cast a " longing, lingering look
behind. A solcitude would occasionally
perturb my breast, and make me troubled
for the future, lest already "the ,cine of life
aCdS drunk, and bat the lees remain"
During this transltory state, when | went
to visit my native home, and the compan-
ions of my youth, one of my friends would
invariably accost me by the appellation of
neighbOr. The epithet appeared then to
me cold and outldndiSh. 1t seemed mode
Of salutation naturally proceeding from
heart of Indifference and frigidity. The
address was evidence of nothing better
than feeling of neutrality, and my sensa-
tons were far from being pleasant, when
thus accosted.
But no sooner had located myself, and
assumed the various responsibilities of my
station, than began to find the Importance
of a good neighborhOod. Being vulnerable
on every side, dependent for many articles
of necessity, frequent and friendly inter
course, and interchange of kind Offices,
seemed not more the dictate of convenience
than of happiness. For there is JOY in
"feeling another's VICE." and assuaging his
grief; and there is JOY in sharing and
frightening his felicity. To feel benevo-
lence and tender sympathies for those
around US, and administer solaces and per-
form benefcent deeds to them, is not only a
duty, but delight to the humane and gen
erous soul. Experience proves to us all,
that each individual and family have times
of gloom, adversely, sickness, bereavement,
dependency, bordering, perhaps, on delir
ium and phrenzy and what can he more
needful and acceptable in these trying sea-
sons than the unlocked for and unsolicited
wine and oil, poured into the smarting
wound by the hand Of kind neighbor !
No one, deserving the name of man or
Christian, wishes TO lock up his Joys or sor-
rows, and forbid all others to know or inter-
NEEDLE Herewith. He esteems it privi-
lege to "rejoice with them that rejoice, and
weep with them that weep" and invites a
reciprocation of the same. fellow feelings
and benignant Offices.
A diversity of genius, scientific and liter
airy attainments, opinions, and tastes, nat
urally suggest the duty that exists, and the
benefits that flow, from familiar and friend
ly association and communication OF AMIGA
bic sentiments, aud the valuable resources
of the mind. What happiness would he re-
allied, thought /, from the existence of such
noble and ardent feelings, and the posses
sion of such rich and diversified acquire
| ments, brought together and put in requisi-
! of collection of neighhors
! To he in company with enemies makes
us very unhappy-to dwell in the midst Of
enemies is to live in a state of misery. No
| person can be at ease within, or he affable
and familiar in conversation, when encom-
I passed with spies and foes; and he always
feels an extreme awkwardness and emhar-
rassment when thus surrounded The
proximity of the envious and malignant is
alone cause of disquietude. Their per-
sons and their habitations are objects OF
pain and aversion, and a contiguty to ma
le0otence is never thought of, but with sen.
satlons the most remote from complacency
What situation can he more unpropitious
and repulsive, than thickly settled neigh.
borhood, where the population are supreme.
| ly selfish, avaricious, without tender sym
paihy, implacable, and literally proving
themselves to he the descendants of Tsh.
lnael, having their hands against every
man, and every mans hands against them
For all purposes of happiness, they are in.
sulated columns; and. whenever they come
in contact, it is but to elicit consuming fires
and aggravate present Indebtedness. As
to nedrneSS of place, they are ne,ghborS
but as to affection and benefcence, they
are very distant--acting the part of aliens
and beligerents. Proximate, yet total stran.
gers to each others joys and sorrows. So.
cial enjoyment and participation Of the
vlcissitudes of veal and woe, happening al.
ternately to THEN ncighhors, being no part
of their system of life, they might, for all
pleasurable and useful purposes, as well be
a thousand miles asunder, as to be placed
side by side.
When, at dusky twilight, the lamp is lii
up in every house and shop in the village
have surveyed the Illuminated dwellings,
and secretly exclaimed, happy villagers il
active benevolence here reigns If, at the
silent hour of midnight have awake, when
confagraton may alarm, and calamity sud-