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

oe'ieVe tnOuSanu years would not weaken
the impression. Surely that degree Of suf
fering which lashes US into a Temporary
misan,hropy when our neighbors are hap.
pest. which makes US fly to our chambers.
and lock ourselves in, to hide the burning
tears which spring at the mrth Of those
we love best, which seduces us into false
hood or thanklessness to God and man, is
enough to justify and require the most
careful fixing Of principles, and framing Of
methods. We might as well let our hearts
and minds-our happiness take their
chance without discipline in all cases what
ever, os neglect our own discipline in this.
The first thing to be done is to fix upon
our principle. This is easy enough. To
give the least possible pain 10 others is the
right principle; how to apply it requires
more consideration. Let me just observe
that we are more inexcusable in forsaking
our principle here than in any other case,
aud than the generality of people are in
the generality OF cases. Principles are
usually forsaken from being forgottcn,-
from the occasion for them not being per-
ceived. We have no such excuse while
beginning to act upon our principle. We
cannot forgct,-we cannot fail to perceive
The occasion, eor five minutes together, that
we spend in society. BY the time that we
become sufficiently at ease to be careless.
habit may, if we choose, have grown up to
support our principle, and we may be safe
Our principle requires that we should
boldly review our case, and calmly deter
mine for ourselves what we will give up,
and what struggle to retain. 1t is mise
rable thing 10 get on without plan from
day to day, nervously watching whether
our inhrmity lessons or increases, or choos
ing TO take for granted that we snail be rid
of it, or hopelessy and indolently giving
up every thing but few selfish gratlfca.
tions, or weakly refusing to resign what
we can no longer enjoy. We must ascer.
tain the probability for the future, if we
can find physicians humane enough to tell
certained, we must not delay making pro
vision for the present. The greatest diff
Guilty here arises from the mistaken kind.
ness of friends The physician had rather
not say, as mine said to me, IL consider
yours bad case" The parent entreas
TO be questioned about any thing that pas
SEES; brothers and sisteres wish that music
should be kept up; and, what is remarka
BILE, every body has a vast deal Of advice
to gvo, if the subject be fairly mentioned
though every body helps, by false tender
ness, TO make the subject too sacred an one
to be touched upon We sufferers are he
persons to put an end to all this delusior
and Encouragement. Advice must 60 ior
nothing with us in case where nobody i,
| qualified to advise. We must cross 1ucs.
ton our physician, and hold him to it til
he has told US all. We mus, destroy The
sacredness Of the subject by speaking OF
it ourselves. not perpetually and scntimen.
tally, but, when occasion arises, boldly
checrfully. and as plain matter Of fact
When every body about US gets to treat il
as matter of TACT, our daily difficulties
are almost gone aud when we have to de-
with strangers, the simple, Cheerful de
clara,ion, II am very deaf" removes al
most every trouble. Whether there wa,
ever as much reluctance TO acknowledge
defective sight as there is now defective
hearing, whether the mention Of specta-
tacles was ever as hateful as that of q
trumpet is now, do not know but wa,
| full as much gricved as amused lately al
what was said to me in shop where
went 10 try new kind Of trumpet; IL as
sure you. Maam," said the shopkeeper, IL
dread too see a deaf person come into my
shop They all expect me to find some
little thing that they may put into then
ears, that will make them hear every thing
without, any body finding out what is the
matter with them"
Well, what must be given up, and wha'
may be struggled for!
The first thing which we are disposed te
give up is the very last which we ought Il
relinquish- society. How many good rea
sons we are apt to see,-are we not p
why we should not dine out; why it is alb
surd to 90 into an evening party; why We
ought to be allowed to remain quiet up
| stairs while vsiters are below This vii
not do. Social communication must be
kept up through all its pains, for the sak'
Of our friends as well as for our own. |
can never be for the interest of our friends
that we should grow selfish, or absorbed il
what does no, concern our day and genera
ton, or nervous, dependant, and helpless
IN common affairs. The less able We be
come to pick up .idngs Of man and circum
stance, the more diligently we must 60 il
seach of the Information. The more on
sympa,hies are in danger Of contraction
the more must we put ourselves in til,
way of being interested by what is hap
pening all about US. Society Is the yer!
las, thing to be given up; but it must b.
sought land ! say with sympathy for those
of you TO whom the effort is new under
bondage of self denial, which annihllale
for q tme almost all the pleasure. What
ever may be our late,-whether we ma,
be set down at the end Of half circle
where nobody comes to address US, o
whether we may be placed beside a lad,
who cannot speak above her breath, or
gentleman who shouts ill every body turn
to see what is the matter; whether ont
| well.meaning friend saws across tho room