Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-03-15
THE NINETY-NINE GOOD TURNS.
BY LYMAN BLANCHARD.


By LYMAN BLANCHARD.
AS the malignant nature can never forgive
the Innocent being it has injured, so the IN
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 iugra,iiude shonld be found;
seeing that the grateful feelings implies, not
sense Of irferiori,y, but the conviction that
somebody has thought US worthy Of sympa-
thy. and entitled by desert to Kindness.
Not less strangely Inconsistent is il. that one
who is thankful in his heart for single SER
vice, should be ungra,eful for long cont:nu.
ed series. Such, too frequently. is he who
frequently fails TO obtain the haadredt,, favor
+ Show him, a, The outset Of acquaintance,
little courtesy offer him your opera glass, or
your snuff. box, write him what is called civ
il note when there is no absolute necessity fer
doing so, and he will trumpet your praise as
one Of the most gracious of mankind. Pro-
coed from small cvililes 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 disin.erested kindness from him
self to his family; get an appointment for his
oldest boy, and reconcile high family to q
match with his daughter; and you bind him
more aid 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 world-ihe most generous Of mortals, The
noblest Of henefac,ors; and then at the very
moment when he is yours forever, only just
refuse him your gun. or your horse--or tell
him you could not think Of writing to The Re.
view to solicit puff for his new pamphlet
that's all.
How in such case will the grateful fellow,
10 whom you have rendered the ninety nine IA.
vors, turn round upon you! He will teach
you in no time curious lesson, that ii takes
years 10 confer obligations, but only months
to forget them.
You dragged him out Of the river once, sa-
wing 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 remember
one of these little incidents No ! he only
reco!lects that YOU yesterday refused TO share
in crazy speculation he was SO rashly enga-
ged in.
He has been so1oDg accustomed to receive
favors, that temporary sioppage siuns him;
und he RECEIVERS his seDses only 10 feel that he
has been cruelty ill.treaied. Hitherto to ask
has been TO have; the denial. therefore, seems
so strange, so wanton, SO unprovoked, that it
cancels tie seeosieciions 81 every debs and
turns honey into gall.
When we hear one with malice and disap-
pontment breathing in every word, impnting
to an absent person, every disobligng quality.
it is not uncharitable to surmise that the alb
sentee had done him many good turns, and
then stopped. When we have listened long
hour 10 fierce railer, who, having fastened
his teeth On the character Of an old acqualnt-
ancc, tears il to :aiters-who is ready to swear
that no particle Of Kindness or generosity turks
within the man--who rates him. as impersona-
ton of all meanness and cove,ousness--it is
always unfair to ask--.I1ow long is it since
YOU first began to borrow Of him? and on what
day this week did he decline to lend you the
guineas!"
Many honest natures, that would blush to
be deficient in the acknowledgment of kind
ness, have been precipitaied, by an unexpected
refusal, into total unconsciousness of count
less benefits received. There is, it must be
owned, something exasperatng in this turning
off at the hundredlh turn. One is uneasy at
receiving ninety-hine obligations and point
blank denial. Custom has become our second
nature, and repulse seems wrong.
The we'll that was already bfim full--to find
not drop in it at last! The tree that drop
ped its ripe fruit for US as we approached. 10
be barren suddenly! Why the well that was
always empty, the tree that never bore at all,
are taken into favor IN preference. There is
forgiveness for the man who rcfuseth at first
to stir foot in our cause, and kept his word;
but there is none for him who, having walked
e thousand miles TO serve US; now declines to
move an inch at the bidding Of our caprico.-
Our seIf-love is wounded by the discovery tina.
we cannot dictate 10 him.
No man can be perfectly sure that he has
not within him the seeds of an ungrateful
scoundrel, until he has been refused the hum
dredth good turn. If true there. he is true
man. Alas foor human nature! M q
IMPORTANT FROM THE AFRICAN SOAP
RoN.-By private advices via England
from the African squadron, up 10 the night
of the 3Olh Of November, we are inform
ed that Commodore Perry was engaged in
an effort to obtain the surrender of the
murderers Of the crew Of the schooner Ma
ry Cutler from the native tribes inhabiting
the coast, near which that unfortunate YES
eel was taken.
The Commodore had been twice on
shore, escorted by sixteen boats OF the
squadron, and four hundred marines aud
light armed seamcn. and had held two
pQlurers with the chiefs. with but little
prospect of success. although il was
known ,ha, the murderers were concealed
in the town.
Il was expected that on LIST Of December
4 landing would be made for the purpose
.,r Initiating summary punishments bv