Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-08-15
AN HONEST NANCY BISHOP HALL

He looks not to what he might do, but what
he should do. Justice is his first guide; to
which he makes expedency always subser-
Went, although the latter is the second law Of
his actions. He would rather complain than
offend {; and hates sin more for the dpiurmiiy
Of 1t than its danger His simple uprightneSs
works in him that confidence which often
wrongs him. and gives advantage to the sub
tile and designing when he grieves more al
their taith!esSness than at his own credullty.
He hath but one heart, and that lies open to
sight; and were it not discreet, he would not
even avoid witness of his thoughts. His
word is his bond, and his yea his oath, which
he will not violate through fear, or to avoid
loss. The untowardness of event may cause
him to blame his wan: Of prudence, but can
never cause him to eat his promise: neither,
saith he, This said not,' but rather, ''Ihs,
| said" When he is made his friends exc
cutor, he defrays debts, pays Iegacies, and
sc0rneth TO gain by widows and orphans, or
to ransack graves; and therefore he will be
true 10 dead friend, because he sees him not,
and abhors to take advantage OF the ncapac-
ty OF those who cannot cali him to account
All his dealings are square and above board:
he suppresses not the fault Of what he sells,
and restores the overseen gain Of an enormous
reckoning which by chance he may have
made. lie psteems bribe venomoua, though
it come gitded over with the color Of gratuitF,
or the usual compliments of Office without
which he is always ready to perform the du-
ties of his station, satisfied with the lawful
remuneration it yields him. His cheeks are
never stained with the bushes Of recantation:
neither does his tongue fdlter to make good
! lia Wi III tho cIo Of 10ulaIIl rncprrGI
senses /; and when his name is traduced, his
innocence bears him out with courage; then,
10, he goes on in the plain way of truth, and
viii. either triumph ia his innocency, or suffer
with it. His conscience overrules his provi'
Idence so as in all things, good or i'll, he re-
CARDS the motives Of his actions rather than
their ntnediate effect upon his temporal lnle'
; rests. II he sees what he ought to do, be
leaves to God the care of what shall follow.
! He never loads himself with burdens above
| his strength, and no consideration Of appa
rent advantage can induce him to undertake
a business which his friends do not give hin
the means Of fairly carrying on; and once
bound, what he can he will do; and he is care
fui not to viii! or wish what he cannot do
His ear is the sanctuary of his absent friend
name, of his present friends secret: neither
of them can mlscatry in his trust, and he L
flithful 10 vndic4te the honor Of his friend. |
f he has committed WRONGS in his youth, he re
members ''lhe wicked borrow and pay not a
r gain" And it, from unforeseen clrcumstan
ces, he becomes insofvent. he is not satlshe
j. that bankruptcy should discharge him trou
/ al obligations to his creditors, nor is he con
1 tent with fuitesS wishes but uses every et
: fort to pay those debts which are justly du
Il from him tIis fair professions are WlthOu
i Idlssembing; and he loves actions abov
+ words. Finally, he hates falsehood, in wor
or deed, worse than death he is faithful
defendant of truth; no mans enemy; and it
i question whether he is more another man
. friend or his own. And if there was no heay
9 en-, vet he would be virtuous.