, 1843-05-27
From Sears Family .Nagasine.
Aids to COntentment.

Aids to COntentment.
! slow much frettIng might he pre-
vented by n thorough conviction that
there a be no such thing rs unmix-
ed good in this world! In ignorance
OF this, how many men, after having
made a free choice in any matter,
con,rive to find innumerable causes
for blaming their judgment. Shen-
stone has worked out the whole pro-
cess with fidelity. "We are often
times in suspense between the choice
of different pursuits. We choose
one al last doubtingly, and with an
unconquered hankcring after the 9TH
er. We find the scheme which we
have chosen. answers our exrecta-
tons but indillerentlv--most worldly
projects will. We therefore repent
of u choice. and Immediately fancy
happiness in the paths which we de-
cline; and this heightens our uneasi-
ness. We might at least escape the
aggravation of it. 1T i not imprba-
bic we had been more unhappy, but
extremely probable we had not been
less SO, and we made Il different deci-
sion.
a great deal of discomfort arises
from Over-sensitiveness about what
people may say Of you or your ac-
tons. This requires to be blun,ed.
Consider whether any thing that you
can do will have much connexion
with what they will say. And be-
sides, itmav tie donbted whether they
will say anything at all about YOU
Many unhappy persons seem to i'm
a2ine that they are always in an am
%philheatre, with the assembled world
as spectators: whereas, all the while,
they are playing 10 empty benches.
They fancy, too. that they form the
particular theme Of every passer-by.
If, however, they must listen TO i'm
aginary conversation about them
>e,vcSethey might at any ate defy
the ~proverb, and insist upon hearing
themselves well spoken Of.
"Well, but suppose that i; is no
fancv;and that you really arc the Oh
ject of unme,ited obloquy. What
then? 1t has been well said, tina, in
that case the abuse does not touch
you; tina, if YOU are gulltless, it ought
not TO hurt your feelings any more
than if it we're said Of another per-
son with whom you are not even ac-
quainted. You may answer that this
false description Of you is often be-
lived in 10y those whose good opinion
is of Importance to your welfare.
That certainly is a paIpable injury;
and the best mode OF bearing up a.
gain.tit is to endeavor to form some
Just estimate Of its nature and cx-
tent. Measure it by the worldly
harm which is done 10 you. Do not
let your Imagination conjure up all
manner of apparltIons OF scorn and
contempt, and universal Kissing. 1t
is partly your own fault if the cal
unny is believed in by those who
ought 10 know you, and in whose al
fections you live. That should be n
circle within which no poisoned dart
can reach you. And for the rest,
for the injury done you in the worlds
estimation, it is simply a piece of i'll
fortune, about which it is neither wise
nor decorous 10 make much moan,
ing.
The heart Of man seeks for SYM
pathy, and each of US Graves u recog.
milton of his talents and his labors.
But this craving is in danger of be-
coming morbid, unless it be constant
~ kept in check by calm reflection
on lis vanity, or by dwelling upon the
very different and far higher motives
which should actuate us. That man
has fallen into a pitlable state of nor
al sickness, in whose eyes the good
opinion Of his iellow-men is the lest
of merit, and their applause the prin-
cipal reward for exertion.
"A habit Of mistrust is the torment
some people. 1t taints their love
and their friendship. They take up
small causes of offence. They ex-
pect their friends to show the same as
pect to them at all times; which is
more than human nature can do
They try experiments TO ascertain
whether they are sufficiently loved;
they watch narrowly the effects of
absence, and require their friends 10
prove 10 them that the intimacy is