Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-10-13

| fatered one, rather than to cherish, bear
with, and, profoundly admiring be fiat
tering, then TO fatter another.
If in the outset there should be so great
similarity in the symptoms Of these two
emotions, or tendencies, as to excite the IN
quiry-where lies the difference ?-their
results are so strongly marked by contra.
dictory elements of character, as to draw
out, through the whole experience Of life,
set Of feelings and habits entirely opposed
to each other. In one case, these are gree
Oily bent upon receiving-in the other, be-
nevolently disposed to give out perpetually
from fountain inexhaustible as life itself.
In one case there is constant demard-in
the other, no less constant supply. In
one case there is self for the centre of all
good-in the other, sell is forgotten in min
istering TO the good of a being who is more
than self. In one case, Kindness, attention,
solictlde, are watched for, demanded as
right, and only borne without, by sorrow,
reproaches, and tears; in the other they
are dispensed like the sunshine and the
due--equally natural, generous, and spon-
taneous, but not the less essential to the
verdure and the beauty of life. In one
case, the Unsuitable receiver sits like bloat-
ed lido! on mystic shrine, gloating over
rich offerings presented therein the other,
the heart itself pours forth its secret wealth,
and asks for no return beyond those OF well
come and acceptance.
Just in proportion then as it is more
blessed to give than 10 receive; and Just in
the same manner, is the act of loving, gen.
erously and devotedy, superior in all the
elements of true nobility and true happi-
ness, TO that common, mean, and desplca-
BILE passion, which deserves no better name
than greediness for being loved and just
in proportion too, as these distinct elements
of character differ from each other, is it i'm
portant to learn in early life how to distin-
gush them each from the other, both in
their outward manifestations, and IN their
secret influence upon the happiness or mis-
cry of life.
When education shall have mastered
few difficulties of this description, it will
indeed have become worthy of its name.
When educators shall have turned their al
tention to subjects of this nature--when
they shall even have dreamed that it is de-
sirable to do so-when they shall have en-
tertained, though but faint idea of the
fact, that the springs of human conduct
arise more out of this class of feelings, than
out of problems in algebra, or Latin roots,
or even living language in any Of its varied
forms, they will have advanced one step
towards that blessed era when moral cuti-
vatlon shall assert its claim to be regarded
in connection with Intellectual. Even
then, the long years in which intellect
alone has been the direct object of the edu-
Gator in systematic training, will have to
be recovered by that neglected portion of
our nature, out of which spring the motives
of all human conduct-out of which spring
happiness and misery-good and evil. All
the long years in which this has been ne
elected will then have to be made up for
by tenfold earnestness and effort, before that
equal balance of mind, that harmony of
character, and that consistency of action
can be looked for, which constitute man a
fitting recipient for the higher influences
of religion, and which, instead of frustra-
ting the great work still remaining TO be
done, is like the preparation of the soil be-
fore the scattering in of precious seed.
Hearts and Homes.