Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-04-07

failure q, the outset is prevented. Bu'
my own feeling is against obliging any one
10 undertake The trouble of conversing with
us. II is perfectly easy to show, at the
moment of being addressed, that we are
socially disposed, and grateful for being
made companions; md |, al least, fee the
pleasure to be greater for its having been
offered me.
think it best fot us TO give up also nn
dcrtaklrgs and occupations in which we
cannot mark aud check our own failures
teaching any thing which requires car.
preaching, and lccturing, and music.
gave up music in opposition to much en-
treaty, some rcproach, and strong secret in
cina'ion; because knew that my friends
would rather put up with a wrong bass IN
my playing. and false time in my singing,
than deprive me Of a resource. Our prin.
ciple clearly forbids this kind If indulgence;
therefore. however confident we may be of
our musical ear, let us be quite sure that
we shall never again be judges Of our own
music, or our own oratorv. and avoid oil
wish Of making others suffer hcedlessly by
our privatious. Listen to no pcrsuaslons,
dear companions, IT you are convinced thu,
what | have said is right. No one can
judge for you. Be thankful for the kind
intentions OF your friends but propose to
enjoy their private eloquence, instead Of
Offering your own in public; and please
yourselves with their music, as long as you
can, without attempting to rival it. These
are matters in which we have right to
be obstinate, if we are sure of the princl-
pie we 60 upon; for we are certainly much
better able to judge what will be for the
happiness Of our friends, in their common
circumstances, than they can be Of ours
in our uncommon ones.
How much less pain there is in calmly
estimating the cnjoymcnts from which we
must separate ourselves, of bravey saying.
for once and for ever, Let them CO." than
in feeling them waste and dwinde, ill
their very shadows escape from our grasp !!
with the best management, there is quite
enough, Tor some OF us. Of this Wasl ing
and dwindllng, when We fad, at the close
OF each season, that we are finally parting
with something. and at the beginning of
each that we have lost sonnet hing since the
last. We miss first the song of the sky
lark, and then the distant nightingale, aud
then one bird after another, till Tie loud
thrush itself seems to have vanished and
we go in the way OF every twiltering IN.
der the caves, because we know that that
will soon be silenced too. Bu, need not
enlarge upon this to you. only mean TO
point out the prudence Of lesseniNg this
KIND OF pain to the utmost. by making a
considerable effort at first; and the most
calculating prudence becomes a virtue.
when it is certain that as much must at
best be gone through as will aflllct our
friends, and may possibly overpower our.
selves, our temper and department. if not
our principles and our affections. do moi
know how sufficiently to enforce these
sacrifices being made with frankness and
simplicity; and nothing so much needs
enforcing. If our friends were but aware
how cruel an injury is the false dellcacy
which is so common, they would not en-
courage our false shame as they do. II
they have known any thing OF the bondage
OF ordinary false shame, they may imagine
something OF our suffering in clrcums,an.
ces of irremedablc singularlty. Instead
OF putting the siEguiarlry out of sight. they
should lead us to acknowledges it III words,
prepare for it in habits, and act upon it IN
social intercourse. If they will not assist
Us here, we iLnsi do 1t for ourselves. Our
principle, again, requires this. Thus only
can we save others from being uneasy in
our presence, and sad when they think OF
US. That we can thus alone make our
selves sought and beloved is an inferior
consideration, though an imporr ant one TO
US, TO whom warmth and kindness are Us
peculiarly animatlng rs sunshine to the
Gagged b'rd. This frankness, simplicity and
cheerfnlness can only grow out o! n per.
feet acquiescence ia Our circumstances
Submission is not enough. Pride fails
OF the most critical moment. Nothing
short of acQuesence will preserve the unl-
ted consistency and checffuness of our
acknowledgment of infrmily. Submis
sion will bemoan ii while making it. Pride
will put on indifference while making it.
But hearty acqniescence cannot fail to
bring forth cheerfG ness. The ihrill Of de-
light which arises during The ready agree.
ment TO profit by pam -(emphaiically the
Joy with which no stranger lntermeddleih,
must subslde like all other emotions
but 1t does not depart without leaving the
spirit ligh,ened and cheercd; and every
visitation leaves 1t in q more genial state
lhan the last.
And now, what may we struggle for
dare say The words Of the morasi lie a,
deep down in your hearts as in my own;
ave must not replne, but we may lawful
y STRUGGLED" 60 further, aud say that
we are bound to struggle. our principle re-
qulres it. We must struggle for whatever
may be hae, without encroaching upon the
comfort of others. With this limitation
we must hear all we can, for as long as We
can. Yet how few Of us will use the help;
we might have! How sedoa is dea
person. to be seen with a trumpet!
should have been diverted, if / had m,
been too much vexed, at the variety Of cx
cuses tina, have heard on this head since