Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-12-06
From Authur's Home Gazette.
WORDS.
BY T. 8. ARTHUR.

pie cant open their Ii ps but somebody is
offended
Words are ,hings!' said smiling.
Very light things! A person must be
tender indeed, that is hurt by word
The very lightest thing may hurt, il
il falls on tender place.
i don't like people who have these
tender places said aunt Rachel. Il
never get hurt at what is said to me-
No-never! To be ever picking and
minsing, and chopping off your words
Ito be afraid to say this or that--for
fear somebody will be offended. can't
abide it..
People Who have these tender places
can't help it, / suppose. Thus being so,
ought we not to regard their weaknessr
said |. pain, either Of body or mind,
is hard to bear, and we should not innict
it causelessly.'
People who are so wonderfully SEN
sitive,' replied aunt Rachel, growing
warmer, fought to shut themselves up at
home, and not come among sensible, good
tempered persons. As far as am con-
cerned, can tell the m, one and all, that
| am not going to pick out every hard
word from sentence as carefully as
would seeds from raisin. Let them
crack them with their teeth if they are
afraid to swallow them whole
Now, for all that aunt Rachel went on
after this strain. she was kind. good
soul, in the main, and | could see, was
sorry for having hurt the feelings of
Mary Lane. But she did not like to ac.
knowledge that she was in the wrong;
that would detract too much from the
sell-complacency with which she regar-
ded herself. Knowing her character
very well, l thought il best not to con-
tinue the little argument about the impor-
tance of words, and SO changed the sub
ject. But, every now and then, aunt
Rachel would return to it, each time
sof'ening little towards Mary. At last
she said
I'm sure il was little thing. A very
little thing. She might have known that
nothing unkind was intended on my
part
'There are some subjects, aunt / re-
piled, 'to which we cannot bear the
slightest allusion. And sudden refer.
ence TO them is very apt to throw us off
our guard. What you said to Mary,
has, in all probability touched some
weakness of character, or probed some
wound that time has not been able to
heal. have alwas thought her sensi-
Bile, good natured girl
And so have l. But I really cannot
think that she has showed her good
sense or good nature in the present case.
Ii is very bad failing this, of being
over sensitive; and exceedingly annoying
to ones friends.
'lt is, | know; but still, all of us have
weak point, and to her that is assailed,
we are apt to betray our feelings
well, say now as | have always
said-l don't like 10 have anything to Go
with people who have these weak points.
This being hurt by word, as if words
were blows, is something that does not
come within the range of my sympa-
,hies!'
'And yet aunt said I, all have weak
points. Even you are not entirely free
from them
Mel aun, Rachel replied.
Yes; and if even as light thing as a
word were TO fall upon them, you would
suffer pain
Pray, SIR said aunt Rachel, with
much dignity of manner; she was chafet
by my words, light as they were; .iniorm
me where these weakness, Of which you
are pleased TO speak, lie!'
'Oh, no; you must excuse me. That
would be very much out or place. Blu,
| only stated a general fact that apper-
tains TO all of us
Aunt Rachel looked very grave.
had laid the weight of words upon the
weakness Of her character. and it had
given her pain. The weakness was
peculiarly good opinion of herself. !
had made no allegation against her; and
there was none in my mind. My words
simply expressed the general truth thai
we all have weakness, and included hel
in their application. But she imagined
that referred to some particular defec
or fault, and mail-proof as she was a,
gainst words, they wounded her.
For day or two, aunt Rachel re-
mained more sober than was her won't
| knew the cause but did not at,emp
to remove from her mind any impression
my words had made. One day, about :
week after, | said to her
Aunt Rachel, l saw Mary Lanes
mother, this morning
'Ah!' The old lady looked up to me
enquiringly.
i don't wonder your words hurt the
poor GIRL added.
why? What did / say quickly
asked aunt Rachel.
You said she was jilt.'
But | was only in jest, and she knew
it. ] did not really mean any thing
I'm surprised that Mary should be S,
foolish
You will not be surprised when yo,
know ALL was my answer.
'All! What all! I'm sure WASH
in earnest. / didn't mean to hurt tn,
A n ~