Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-13
Speak Kin ".

speak Kin ".
In our daily intercourse with those we
love-in our family relations as husbands
and wives, parents and children, brothers
and slsters-a constant watchfulness
ought to be maintained over our W ,rds
and actions, in order to avoid il fict: ng
unnecessary pain. How frequently does
it occur, that a word kindly spoken to
those we once loved, but who have been
since removed by the hand of death, will
haunt our memory long afterward, like
an avenging demon, causing us poignant
and vain regrets! Years after the cir
cumstance has passed out of our own
minds and the mind Of the friend we may
have grieved or wronged, if some sudden
calamity bcfalls him, or some unexpected
summons calls him away from earth and
removes him from the scope of our ability
to make redress, will the awakened mem
ory OF the unkind act or word cloud the
melancholy reflections ofourwaking hours
and even haunt our dreams. But the
most bitter and poignant reflections arise
when we have parted in unkindness from
some one connected with us by the ten
dereSt ties: and then no opportunity oc-
ours to effect reconciliation-the person
we have injured is removed from us sud
denly by death. Then comes the period
of vain regrets and unavailing self re-
proach. What would we give for mo-
ment of time to ask and obtain one word
of forgiveness from that loved one we
have wronged But, alas, too late ! too
late!
The experience of an acquaintance, re-
lated by himself not long ago. illustrates
most forcibly the above position. He
had been living. he said away from home
for several months, and was on visit of
a week or two at his fathers house. The
father was a man of the most uncompro
missing integrity, and cherished a strong
though honest prejudice against all light
or transient amuscments. He had never
allowed his children, while under his
control, to attend dancing parties or
shows, or to mingle in the sports which
most men regard as unohiectionable, Or
at least, not altogether to he condemned
The consequence was, that his children,
as is usual under all similar circum-
Sances, were fond of indulging in
Vie interdicted pleasures, and were apt
when an opportunity did occur, to carry
them too far. They felt that their father
was prompted by a sincere conviction Of
and desire to discharge. the duties of a
parent who f els the weight of his respon
siblity to God but they felt also that
he was unnecessarily stringent in his in
depreciation of what he considered right
or wrong. As a consequence, they did
not hesitate, when circumstances faovred
it, to eyade their fathers mandates upon
the subject, and even, when they dared
to set them at defiance.
''1 shall never forget said the nara
tor, g nor cease to regret the incidents of
my last visit home duringmy father life.
There was to be a ball at a neighborine
tavern. by no means repu' able place.
and it was to come off the evening before
was to return TO my employment in a
distant town. Feeling myself emancipa
ted f'om parternal control. for | hadiust
reached my majority and priding myself
upon the idea that was now master of
my own actions. I signified my intention
to be present. Ny fa,her, as usual for
bade my attendance. | answered him in
anger. stating that his authority over me
was henceforth ended that he had treat
ed me like boy, and had submitted
like boy until now but since / had
reached the age at which the law permit
ted me to think and act for myself, | was
determined to assert my rights. | even
went so far, and was so unjust to my
father. as to intimate that desire existed
on his part to tyrannze over US, from a
love ofpa6ernal authority. He was man
Of strong and naturally irritable feelings.
but his motives were always of the purest
kind: and my conscience smote me as
uttered the sentiment which my pride
would not permit me TO recall.