Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-05-14
NJ ] S o . Z Z a 81 s. O
THE SENSE OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
BY ROBERT MORRIS.

BY ROBERT MORRIS.
81 had a seeming friend IL gave him gifts and he was
gone;
had an open enemy 81 gave him gifts, and won him;
Common friendship standeth qualities, and
bear debt,
But the very heart of hate melteth at good mans love
Go to, then, thou that sayesI will give and rive the
For pride shall kick obligation and push the givcr
from him.
The covetous spirit may rejoice revealing in thy largcss
But chilling selshness will give again.
A friend called upon us some days stree, who was
not little annoyed at course of conduct in an in
dividual, which seemed to him puzzle, and re-
Election upon all the higher attributes of human ma
ture. 1t appears that the individual was merely an
acquaintance, who had a certain occasion been in
situation OF much distress, and after having appli-
ed in vain to others who knew him BETTER sought
relief from friend. Generous, confiding, and
keenly alive to the difficulties of the unfortunate he
admitted that his pecuniary circumstances were not
very f1attering but at the same time extended the
asked-for relief in the shape of loan. The sum
was not large, and it was TO be returned in the
course OF few weeks, inasmuch as our friend could
not conveniently spare it but for the time specified
The matter passed on, the time designated elapsed
the money was not returned, and no explanation was
made. But all this nothing in the estimation
OF the individual who had conferred the favor, and
he was disposed to overlook the neglect and to fan
cy in his own mind dozen reasons therefor. But
he was surprised and panied to learn that the Dor
rover, not satisfied with classifying his word upon
the subject, and neglecting to make any apology or
explanation, was busly engaged every opportuni-
ty, in slandering and vilfying the person who had
assisted him For long time, our friend was
much annoyed at the circumstance. He could not
account for the could not fathom the motive CT
the villifyer. He cared nothing for the money and
would have received freely and cheerfully any apol
ogy for the delay in the repayment But to be
abused under the circumstances-to imagine that
he had made man an enemy by an act of Kindness
and generosity-the thought was indeed painful.
and the belief in the existence Of such ngratitude
and depravity almost impossible Nevertheless, on
inquring particularly into all the circumstances we
arrived at the conclusion that the slanderer had be-
come so from sense of obligation, and that most
wretched species Of jealousy and envy, which in
duces one human being to hate another, because OF
his superiority of mind, heart or crcumsances-or
because he feels that he cannot repay in a manly
noble, and fTank-hearted manner, favors that
have been extended to him in like spirit. With
many, this dark and despicable feature may be said
to exist. They hate to acknowledge their indebt-
edncss to others. Nay more, they decry and defame
their benefactors. Ibey lack the magnanimity of
truh-they are mean and paltry Of spirit, are low,
malignant and jealous, and hence as in the case of
the individual referred to above, they not only
shrink from all proper acknowledgment Of favors re-
celved, but guilty of the darker vice Of injustice
and outrage against those to>whom they are indebt-
ed do you know of no such case, gentle reader
Gan you not in your own brief history point out an
individual whose friendship you have forfeited, by
placing him under sense of obligation? Can you
not remember the conduct of some one, who at
certain time, sought your advice, assistance and sup
port, in some critical situation of life, and after you
had extended them freely, cheer9ully, and with eff
fect--became less and less intimate, until at last
the ties of friendship severed and the feeling
lived but in memory?
Alas for human nature. Too many forget one
year, the obligations of that which preceded it. II
IS 'he weakness and the vice Of the multitude TO
Shrk from all generous manifestations for favors
received TO withhold all hcartwarm culogies of the