The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-05-26
Speak Kindly.

that word unkindiy spoken 10 those we once
loved, but who have been since removed by The
hand Of death, will haunt cur memory long afer-
ward, like an avengiDg demon, causing US pong
naDt and vain regrets, Years after the circuni-
stance h is passed cut Of our own minds aud the
mind Of the fisnd We may have grieved or
wronged, il sopIc sudden calamity befalls him, or
sou.e unexpected summons calls him from The
scope Of or ability TO make redress, Will The
awakened memory of the unkind act or word cloud
the melancholy reflections Of our waking hours,
aud even haunt our dreams. But The most bnter
aud poignant reflections arise, when we have
parted IN unkindness from some ore connected
win Us by the ienderest ties; and then no oppor-
iuDny occurs To eject recnnciliation The person
we have injured Is removed from suddenly by
death Then comes the period Of vain regrets
aud nnavaiing seh-reprosch. What would we
give Tor moment OF time to ask and obtain one
word Of forgiveness srom that loved one we have
wr"nged, but, alas! too late, leo la,e
The experience of an acquaintance, rea ed by
hmself not long ago. illustrates most forcibly the
above position. He had been living, he said ,
away from home for several months, and was on
4 visit OF Il weeh or two at his fathers house. -
The father WAS man of the most unconipromi-
sing integrity, and cherished strong, though hon
est prejudice against all light or transient amuse-
nrnt>. lie had never allowed ms children. while
under his control, 10 attend dancing parties or
shows, or 10 nIinSie IN the sports which most men
regard "a unohlectlonabie, or at least, not alto
? Their 10 be condemned. The consequences was
that the CHI ldren, rs Is usual under similar cir
ounlsancts, Were fond Of INDUCING IN the inter-
dcted pleasures, and we're apt, when an eppor-
tunny did occur, to carry them toe far. 1 hey
ieIt that Their father vas prompted by sincere
conviction Of, and desire to discharge, the du-
g IL ID.
pnnsibny 10 God but they felt also that he was
unnecessary stringent IN bis Interpretation of what
he considered righi or wrong. As IA consequence
they did not hesitate, when circumstances favored
y, 10 evade their fathers mandates upon the sub
Ject, and even when they dared, to set them at
defiance.
~ shall never forget. said the narrator, ''nor
cease Ia regret Inc incident of my last ,is'; home
during nay father NE. i here was TO be a ball
AT a neighhorins tavern, by no means II reputable
pace, and II WAS 10 come off the evening before
was 10 return 10 NY employ IN distant
town. Feeling myself emancipaJed from prter-
nal control, (iur had just re ched my majority }
and prding myself upon the dea that ! was now
master Of my own actions slanied my inten-
,"n 70 be presenf. My father. as usual, forbade
my Attendance Iansw cred hun in anger, stating
that his au,norily ever was henceforth ended !;
that he bad treated me Ike I. boy, and had sub
United like Il boy until now /; hut since | had
reached the age at which the law permitted me
10 ihak and act for myself. | was determined 10
assert my rights even went so far. and WAS
- unjust 10 my father a> 10 intimate that desire
existed his part To tyranZe over US, from love
81 paternal authority. lie was a man Of strong
aid naturally irritable feelings, but his motives
we're always Of the rurest Kind and my con
science sncie ne as uttered the sentiment which
my PRIDE would not permit me To- recall.
AN angry blush passed over his countena nee,
at such an unusual reception of my comma nds.
but he checked himself instan,aneously, and an
s"ered, with unusual mildness. Charles | NAV
nave erred IN many points touching the govern
meni al my children. but have endeavored 10 do
MY duty as parent and as Il man. The time
may come when YOU will be sorry for What you
have uttered to-day -
''And that time did come more speedily than
even he anticipated. They were prophetic words.
ana even al his late day, they haunt n.e in nv
dreams.
81 went TO the ball, but | did not enjoy myself:
was jc,ia, and full Of gee my associates
thong h, tie IA unusually good spirits, bu, il was
all ie'gned. aud hollow -hearted as a sepuichre.
'''Charies, the time may come when Won will
be sorry for " nat You have uttered today runs
IN NY ears.
at was near morning when the party broke
mp, and returned home. faded in spirit, exha ust-
ed IN ply steal energy. and worn down with ex-
cteueht. went 10 bed. and fell into a troubled
sleep, which lasted until near noon. When |
arose, a dizziness and pain In the head incapaci
tailed me fion mental exertion sill half re-
solved. ere | 'rf home in the afternoon. to confess
my faui to IA. father. met brn al the dinner
'ao'e, bu' no a!lu>ion was made by either of 10
The incident Of The previous day: and when we
he T:it,l IL.
II was necessary fer TO take The coach. fol-
lowed my father into little pirlour, whittier he
had gone as If DESTROYS Of afio' ding ne an oppor-
tGn'iy To speak with HIM alone; hut was ashamed
10 confess That Was wrong, and merely said |
must III MN gOod-by, az the coach was coming
Have You nothing more to say, Charles:' be
inq' IT. d.
"'No,' answered. and we parted | took The
coach for the scene of my labor., di-pleased and
angry with myself. bu, now penient; and for a
"eek succeeding was lnCustrlously e,np,oyed in
my vocation, having allow ed the unpleasant, cir
c""'s'ance t. pass ou of my mind, v hen AN ex-
press came requiring nay immediate prest nee at
home, for it was stated that my flher, IN state
If perfect and ford health, had been stricken
down by al apopleclic fit.
Although SIT! alive when the messenger left.
he was In>ens'be. and was not expected TO sur
we. Then, indeed, ] fell the fall force of the
nous prediction. The time may come when
You Will be sorry for what YOU have uttered to-
day FASTENED home. full of anxiety and grief,
only TO lind ny inther al the point Of death. lie
never gave token Of recognition OF nv presence.
anu resigned his splIi INTO the hands Of God amid
me srei OF borrow my household, of whom nine
was infinitely the most bitter. Once. indeed. be-
lore nay arrival, he rallied sufficiently 10 inquire
II had come, and on beng answered in the neg
atiVe, reldpSed into Stale of insensihil,,y and
never spoke again. As stood beside his bed
and g'zed upon the lIeless features of one of The
neS' oi 'aihers, whose every command il was my
duty 10 have obeyed, (and which. as Il general
hing, did ohey,) the thought Of the Ia 81 ac, Of
disohedIence aud unkndness tortured ME like an
nvene'ng hend; and felt as if word of forgive
ness from those cold lips would have been receiy.
ed more JOY July than welcome admission to the
bliss Of heaven
L ne Royal Society Of London has recently re-
ceived as legacy several articles which were
once the property of SIR Isaac Newton:-Amonr
me articles rs tie philosophers god watch, IN a