Litchfield enquirer., 1847-05-20
THE SOFT ANSWER.
RY T. $. ARTHUR.

Hx H. Ss AhlHGHs
 "I'll give him law to his hearts content, the scoundrcl 5 said Singleton, walking backward and forward, in an angry state of excitement.
 'Doh'. call harsh names, MT. Singleton, said lawyer Trueman, looking up from the mass of papers before him, and smiling in a quiet, benevolent way, that was peculiar tc him.
 Every man should be known by his true name. Williams is scoundrel, and SO he ought to be called , responded the client, with increased wrath.
 Did you ever do reasonable thing in your life when you were angry p asked Mir Trueman, whose age aud responsibility gave him license to speak thus freely to his young friend, for whom he was endeavoring 10 ar- range some business difficulty with his fcr> mer partner.
 T cam. say that ever did, MT. True man-but now, have gooA reason for be- ing angry. and the language l use, In refer- ence to Williams, is but the expression of a sober and rational eonviction,' replied Sin gloton, little more calmly.
 'Did you pronounce him a scoundrel be> fore you received this reply to your las, p asked Mir. Trueman.
 No. did not-but the latter confirmed my previously formed impressions of his 
 'Bu, cannot find in that letter, any evi- dcnce proving your late partner 10 be dis honest man. He will no, agree to your pros posed mode of settlement, because he does not see i, 10 be the most proper way
 He wont agree to it. because it is an honest and equitable mode of settlement tha, is all! He wants 10 overreach me, and is determined 70 do so if he can y re- sponded MT. Singleton, still excited.
 sThere you are decidedly wrons, said the lawyer. You have both allowed your. selves to become angry, and are both unrea> sonable, and if must speak plainly, I think you are the most unreasonable, in the pres- ent case. Two angry men can never settle any business properly. You have unnec- essarily increased the difficulties in the way of speedy settlement. hy writing MT. W'l> Hams an angry letter. which he has rcspon~ ded to in the like unhappy temper. No, fl am to settle this business for you mus, write all letters that pass to Mir. Williams in future"
 'Bu. how can you properly express m, views and feelings3'
 That do not wish to do, if yonr views and feelings are to remain as they now are for anything like an adjustment of the diff, faculties, under such circnmslan noes, should consider hopeless,' replied Mr. Trueman
 sWell. let me answer this letter, and af- ter that, I promise you shall have your own way'
 No, ! shall consent to no such thing II is the reply to that letter which is 10 modify the negotiation for settlement, in such a way as to bring success or failure-and l have no idea of allowing you. in the presen, state of your mind. to write such one aa will most assuredly defeat an amicable ad' justment.'
 Singleton paused fof some time before making reply. He had been forming in his mind most cutting and bitter rejoin' der to the letter inst alluded to. and he wa. very desirous that Mr. Williams should have the benefit of knowing that he thought him 'tricky and deliberate scoundrel, with other opinions of a similar character. He found it, therefore, impossibl. to make up his mind to let the unimpassioned MT. Trueman write this most important epistlc.
 'Indeed, I mast write this letter, MT. Trueman, he said. 'There are some things ,ha, I want to say to him, which know you won't write. You don't seem to consider the position In which he has placed me by the letter. nor what is obligatory upon me as a man Of honor. Inever allow any man to reflect upon me directly or indirectly, wish~ ost promp. response.'
 'There is, ia the Bible,' said MT. True> man. a passage that Is peculiarly aPPlica- bls in the present case. It is this-' A soft answer turne.h away wrath, but grievous words stir up anser.' have found this preceps. in life that has numbered more than double your years, to te one that may be safely and honorably adopted. in all ca ses. You blame Mr. Williams for writing you an angry letter. and are indignant a certain expressions contained therein. Now is it any more right for you to write an an gry letter, with ostsiUS epi,he4s than tt ii Gos hImr