Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-10-27
THE NINETY.NINE GOOD TURNS.

.... BY LAMAN BLANCHARD.
e.- As malignant nature can never forgive
the innocent being it has injured, so the UNI
grateful nature cannot forgive the generous
man who has served it. Strange that among
the Inconsistencies Of which we are made up,
one so gross as ingratitnde should be found,
seeing that the grateful feeling implies, not a
sense of interorilv, but tho conviction that
some body has thought us worthy of SYM
patty and entitled by desert to kindness.
Not less strangely inconsistent is it that
one who is thankful in his heart for a single
service should be ungrateiu for long con-
iinued series. Such, too frequently, is he
who fails to obtain the hundredth favor.
Show him, at the outset of your acquaint-
snce, little courtesy; offer him your opera
glass or your snuff box; write him what is
called civil mute when there is no absolute
necessity for doing so, and he will trumpet,
your praises rs one of the most gracious of
mankind Proceed from small civilities to
essential benefits heap favor upon favor on
him go out Of your way to evince your
anxiety for the promotion of his interests, the
qualification of his desires extend your dis
interested kindness to his family; get an ap-
pointment for his eldest boy, and reconcile
"A high family to match with his daughter,
and you bind HIM more tightly in obligations
to you, and hear him proclaim you, nine
times day for nine years, the best friend he
ever had in the wolld--the most generous OF
mortals, the noblest of benefaciors: and
'thon, the moment when he Is your own for
ever, only just refuse him your gun or your
horse-or tell him you could not think OF
writing to the Review to solicit puff of his
new mphlet-that's all.
Z How in such case will the grateful fellow
to whom you have rendered the ninety. nine
good turns, turn round upon you? lie will
it takes years to confer obligations, but only
months to forget them.
You dragged him ont Of the river once
saving his life at the risk of your own: YOU
lent him thousand pounds you introduced
him 10 all the connexions in which he finds
the best charms of society. Does he remeu,
Der one of these little incIdenis7 No: hi
only recoec,s that YOU yesterday refused Il
share in crazy speculation he was so rashly
concerned in.
He had been so long accustomed 10 re-
ceive favors that temporary siopage stun
him, and he RECEIVERS his senses only to fee
that he has been cruelty ill-ircaied. Hitler
to, to ask has been TO have /; the denial
therefore seems so strange, so wanton, S,
unprOvoked, that it cancels the recollection
of every dcbr, and turns honey into gall.
When we hear one with malice end dis
appointment breathing in every word, impn
ting TO an absent person every disobliginl
quality, il Is not uncharitabe to surmiso tina
the absentee has done him many IA good turn
then stopped. When we have listened
long hour TO a fierce raier, who, having fas
tened his teeth on the character of an old &C
quaintance, tears it TO tatters--whO is read,
TO swear that no particle of kindness O.
generosity turks within the man-who rate
linn as the impersonaiion of all meaness ant
cOyetOusness-it is not unfair to ask. How
long since you first began to borrow of him
lend you the guinea.
Many honest natures. that would blush 4
be deficient in the acknowledgment of kind
ness, have been precipiiated by an unexpect
ed refusal into a. total unc0nciousness O
countless benefits received. There is, j
must be owned, something exasperaling il
this turning of the hundredth turn. One il
uneasy at receiving ninety-nino obligations
and poin, blank denial Custom has be-
come our second nature, and repulse Seems
wrong.
The well'that was already brim full to fine
not drop in it at lastl The tree that drop
ped its ripe fruits for us as we approached Il
be barren suddenly! Why, the well tina
was always empty, the tree that never bort
at all, are taken into favor in preference
There is forgiveness for the man who refus'
ed at first TO stir foot in our cause, and KEEP
his word hut there is none for him who
having walked thousand miles to serve us
now declines TO move an inch at the bidding
OF our caprice. Our self-love is wounded
by the discovery that we cannot dictate to
him.
No man can be perfectly sure that he has
not within him the seeds Of an ungratetu
scoundrel, until he has been refused the
hupIredth rood turn, If true then. he is n