Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-07-19
From the Newark Daily Advertiser

HOME-EVERY DAY DUTIES.
The duties oflife are not all of the great
and exciting sort. There are many duties
in every day, but there are few days in
which one is called to mighty efforts or he
roic sacrifices. am persuaded that most
of us are better prepared for great emer-
gencies, than for the exigences of the pass
ING hour. Paradoxical as this is, it is tena-
BILE, and may be illustrated by papable in
stances. There are many men who would,
without the hesitation Of an instant, plunge
into the sea to rescue drowning child,
but who, the very next hour, would break
an engagement, or sheer at an awkward
servant, or frown unjusty on an amiable
wife.
Life is made up of all these little things.
According TO the character of household
words, looks and trivial actions, is the true
temper of our virtue. Hence there are
many men reputed good, and as the world
goes, really so, who belle in domestic life
the promise of their holiday and Sunday
demeanor. Great in the large assembly,
they are little at the freside. Leaders, per-
haPs, of public benevolence, they plead for
universal love, as the saving principle of the
social compact: yet when among their de-
pendants, they are peevish, morose, Sc
we're, or in some other way constantly sim
ming against the law of kindness.
Why do you begin to do good so far off?
This is a ruling error. Begin at the Gen.
tire work and work outwards. Ifyou do
not love your wife, do not pretend to such
love for the antipodes. If you let some ia
mily grudge, some peccadlo, some unde.
sirable gesture, sour your visage towards a
sister or daughter; pray cease TO preach
beneficence on a large scale.
What DO you mean by doing good Is
it not increasing human happiness Very
well but vhose happiness. Not the hap.
pincss of A B or G in the planet Saturn, but
that of fellow terrestrials; no: of the millions
| you never see, so much as that of hundreds
or scores whom you sec every day. Begin
to make people happy. 1t is good work
it is the best work. Begin (not next
door) but within your own door: with your
next neighbor-whether relative, servant,
or superior. Account the man you meet,
the man you are to bless. Give him such
things as you have. How can make him
or her happier p This is the question. If
a dollar will do it, give the dollar. If adj
vice will do it, give advice. If look or a
smile, or warm pressure Of the hand, or a
tear will do it, give the look, smile, hand or
tear. But never forget that the happiness
of our world is mountain of golden
sands, and that it is your part to cast some
contrbutary atom almost every moment.
i would hope that such suggestions, how.
ever hackneyed,will not be without their in.
fluence
"On that best portion of good mans life,
His little nameless, unremembered acts
Ofkindness and of love."*
In season Of great reverses, and real
suffering in the mercantile and manufactu.
ring world, there is occasion for the luxury
Of doing good. The poorest man may les
sen his neighbours load. He who has nc
gold may give what gold cannot purchase.
If religion does not make men who profes.
it more ready to render others happy, it /.
pretence. We are to be judged at the
last, by this rate. The inquiry is to be es
pecially concerning our conduct towards
the sick, the prisoner, the pauper and tho
foreigner. HThe neighbor whom we are t.
trust is our meet door neighbor; that is the
man who falls in our way. The Samari
tan knew this. 1t was but a small pttanc,
he gave; the poorest among us may g
and do likewise. Do not allow townsmal
or stranger, or even an emigrant, to sui
fer for lack of endeavors. 1t will cost yo
, little, but will be much to him.
''Tis little thing
70 give a cup of water; yet its draught
OF cool refreshment, drained by fevered lips,
, May give shock of pleasure 20 the frame
{ More exquisite than when nectarian juice
Renews the life of joy in happiest hours.
al IT is a little thing to speak phrase
4 of common comfort which by daily use
: Had almost lost its sense yet on the ear
: of him oho thought to die unmourned, 't,oi
y fall
Like choicest music"t
Let no one be surprised at my quotin
/ choice poetry 10 mechanics. Servile boor
d may stare in amazement, but tho America
mechanic is no boor. Who shall dare I
say that the poorest journeyman may nc
: reach forth his hand in the garden Of tn
9 muses.? And who shall deny to the hor
est laborer the solace of doing goodl 1t
: the best work in the worst times. Hell
I, others and you relieve yourself. Go GU
: and drive away the cloud from that distre:
: !. sed friends brow, and you will return wit
I lighter heart. Take heed to tho Mi
; things-the trifling, unobservcd, languag
or action-passing in moment. A syll'
l. bic may stab blessed hope ; syllab
may revive tho dying. A frown may crus
d a gentle heart; the smile Of forgiveness
Wordsworth's Tintern Abbey.