Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1840-05-16
CANTON, MISSISSIPPI, SATURDAY, NAY 10, 1910
acts Of mercy like the good Samaritan

acts Of mercy like the good Samaritan
s'Surs the last end
OF the good man Is pence. How calm his exit.
Night dews fall not more gently on the ground,
Nor weary, worn out winds expire soft.n
The new year to which We are just
introduced is, in one sense, a perfect
stranger, though we have been long init
mate with the family 10 which il belongs.
and of course have some general &C
quainfance with certain features Of lis
character, leading US 10 anticipate It's
promises and its failure to perform them
IN many instances-its smiles and lis
| lears-Its batteries and its frowns--its
/ gaities and hopes-its gradual decline
decay and dissolution-but we have a.
| bundant reason too for indulging the be-
lief that we may enjoy thousands OF
blessings, if we are disposed TO cherish
proper ieelings--to be kind and courte-
Gus aud obliging, and ever on our guard
to avoid unnecessarily wounding the
feelings of others, ever ready to ac-
knowledge the fayors we receive, and
render a suitable return.
How easily all this may be done =
How often IS it grossly neglected. He
who consults his own ease and comfort
cannot in any manner attain the desired
result so readily and certainly, as by ha-
bitually consulting the ease and comfort
of others, with whom he is in the habit
of assoclating; and this is true politeness
also. A man who is dissatisfied with
himself and those around him, and la
boring under the darkening influence Of
disturbed or morose feelings, "may ira
vel from Dan to Bersheba and say il is
all barren''-to him it will appear so;
and the effect would be the same if his
journey lay amidst the most delightful
scenes of rural beauty. The seasons of
the year all give their annual lessons for
instruction. Ii is our wisdom TO regard
them carefully. Spring summons US all
10 cheerful activity, with the assurance
that our labor will not be in vain. Sum
mer performs what spring had promised,
and shows US the advantage of listening
to early instruction and wisely improv-
ing it. Ten thousand songstcrs are fl
ling the branches with their animating
strains Of music and gratitude, and
teaching US to enjoy, as they do, the
countless blessings and bounties of ma
ture; their music is never failing-nor
do we see 1t ending in discords. Let US
all, as we journey onward together thro'
the year, learn to tune our hearts as
they do their voices, and pass the fleet
ing period in harmony, and in that
.cheerfulness which the excellent Ad il
son has honored with the name of con-
tinual expression of gratitude 10 Hea-
ven.
al l.. o, sc
music are general among the people
Besides other advantages residing from
making music a part of common educn-
ton, it is not romantic or utopian to OBJ
serve that it teaches how easily music
pure SURPRISING musc-may be made on
the same instrument, which under an ig
norant or proposed touch will sound
forth dIscords in prod gious varieties
He who has become acquainted with the
instrument, though not master of IL,
we'll knows how TO avoid those combina-
tons of sound which are painful to the
ear, and often tend TO disturb feelings
and passions. What tones are sweeter
than those produced by the gentle breeze
Of heaven in passing over the strings Of
the Eoian Harp? The reason is, those
strings are so attuned that their vibra-
tons will not respond except in notes of
harmony; but only disorder the strings.
by increasing the tension Of some and
decreasing that of others, and the sweet
est zephyr will produce nothing but the
viIest discords, resembling angry pas
sions. Letus then, 10 our journey thro'
the year on which we have entered. re-
quire as much as possible a knowledge
Of the science and the art of social and
domestic moral music. Let US learn TO
measure our time with care, TO cultivate
our voices that they may loose all harsh
ness; let each attend to his own part, and
s~ive 10 excel in that Let US consider
our feelings, passions and dispositions,
as the strings Of the harp, and the ordi-
nary events of life as the breezes which
give vibration TO the strings; if these
strings--our feelings, passions, and dis
positions, are IN proper tune-under due
regulation, and preserving just rela-
ton each to all the others, we have then
oil the elements of moral music, domes-
tic and social, and in few weeks, by
due regard TO all, the principles and ar
engagements above mentioned we shall
soon be good scholars, giving and receiv-
ing all tEl1A D4GdSAtC A<lt At4CtiS IAN
afford. and as the sober autumn advan-
ces, our taste for this kind Of music will
be more and more ripened towards per-
fiction: and when the cold December
evenings shall arrive, We can listen to
the angry music OF the elements abroad,
full Of discordant strains, sweeping by
our peaceful homes. while within them
all may be the music of the heart, in its
gentlest movements
1t is melancholy truth that we our
selves manufacture seven-eights OF what
we are disposed 10 term our mlsfortunes
ia this world. Want of precaution mars
our arrangements; want of prudence ex-
poses US to dangers which We might ca
silv have avoided = want of patience
lolten burries Us into difficulties, and dis
Qualities US to bear them with calmness
or decency. indulgence IN follies and
fashions often plants the seeds OF vast
ling disease. Intemperance in our pas
sions always is followed by unwelcome
u