Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-04-23
I'll mistcllonrous. 8.
LOOK AT THE BRIGHT SIDE.
BY 7. S. ARTHUR.

Is not immediately set forth to qualify the good
impressions. "AIr. A. is a man of fine
talents, you say; and forthwith is responded,
"O' yes, a man of fine talents, but he has no
control over his passions" "Mr B. is "A
man OF excellent principles" "Bu,," is an.
swered, 81 don't like some Of his practiccs."-
MIR. g is kind father and husband"
"But if all have heard be true, he is not over
nice in regard to his word" And ten chan
ces to one, if the commentator is not forgot
ten, while the disparaging declarations find a
prominent place in the memories of all who
heard them, and color their estimation of
A, B, and c..
1t is remarked by Swedenborg that when.
ever the angels come TO any one, they explore
him in search of good They see not bis evil,
but his good qualities, and attaching them
selves 70 these; and thus man would be left
unalded, to be borne down by the powers of
evil.
If, then, we would help our fcow.m man to
rise above what is false and evil in his char
acter, let us turn our eyes, as far as possible,
away from his faults, and fix them steadily
upon his good qualities. We shall then aid
him IN the upward movement, and give exter-
nal power to the good he really possesseS.-
And now, by the way Of illustration
A young man named Westfed was the
subject Of conversation between three or four
persons. One of these, Mr.. Hartman, had
met MIR. WestGeld only recently. The first
impression formed of his character was quite
favorable, and he expressed himself according
ly. 10 his surprise and pain, one of the com
pany remarked:
Yes, Westteld is clever enough in his
way, but" And he shrugged his should
ers, and looked a world of mystery.
"No force of character" said another.
81 have never liked the way lie treated Mr..
Green" said the third. at shows to my mind
defect ofprinciple. The young man is well
enough in his way, | suppose, and | wouldn't
say word against him for the world, but"
And he shrugged his shoulders All, how
much wrong has been done to character, and
worldly prospects. by a single shrug!
From no lip present came even the small
est word in favor of the young man. No one
spoke OF the disadvantages against which he
had struggled successfully, nor portrayed a
single virtue of the many he possessed. No
one looked at the brighter qualities of his mind
And why ,? Poor, weak human nature Quick
to mark evils and defects, but slow to ac-
knowledge what is good in the neighbor-
Prone to tlatter SELF yet Offering only extorted
praise at the shrine of another's merit How
low art thou fallen
A few evenings after the little conversation
we have mentioned, Mr.. Hartman was thrown
in company with Westfeld. The latter, re-
membering his interview with this gentleman,
whose position in society was one of standing
and influence, met him again with a lively
glow OF satifaotion, which showed itself in
countenance and manner But the few dis
paraging words spoken against the young man,
bad poisoned the mind of Mr. Hartman, and,
instead of meeting him with the frank cordi-
ality expected, he received him with cold re-
pulse.
Disappointed and mortified, Westield turn
ed from the man towards whom warm feel
ings and hopeful thoughts had been going
forth for many days. and, in a little while, qui-
etly retired from company, in mingling with
which he had promised himself both pleasure
and profit
"That hope basted!" exclaimed the young
man, striking his hands together, while shad
ow of intense pain darkened his countenance
he was now alone, having returned to his
chamber for sef-communion.
There existed, at this timc an important
crisis in the young mans affairs He was
clerk, on very moderate salary. His own
wants were few, and these his salary would
have amply supplied, but widowed mother
and young sister looked to him as their only
support 10 sustain all, was beyond his abii-
lty; and, much to his anxiety and deep dis
couragement, he found himself falling into
debt His offence towards Mr. Green, which
had been alluded to as involving something
wrong on his part, was nothing more nor less
than leaving his service for tina; of another man
who made small advance in his salarv-a
thing which the former positively refused to
DO He had been with Mr.. Green from his
boyhood up, and, somehow or other, Mr. Green
imagined that he possessed certain claims to
his continued service, and when the fact Of
Westteld's having left him was alluded to,
gave to others the impression that he was
badly used in the matter He did not mean
to lnjure the young man; but he had been
valuable; the loss fretted him and produced
unklnd feellngs-and these found relief in
words. Seltishness prevented him from see
ing, as he ought to have seen, the bright side
of Westlield's character, and so he injured him
by throwing shadow on his good name.
"That hope bastedl" repeated the young
man.
And what was this fondly cherished hope,
the extinguishment Of which had moved him
so deeply? A few words will explain. Mr..
Hartman was a man of considerable wealth,
and had just closed large contract with the
State, for the erection of certain public works
to be commenced Immediately. On that vel
ry day Westtield had learned the fact that he
was quietly in search of competent, conf
dental, dsbursing clerk, whose salary would
be double what he was receiving; and it was
his purpose to see him Immediately, offer him
SELF and endeayor # possible, to secure the
situation. He had called at bis Office twice
during the day, but failed to see him The
manner in which Mr.. Hartman met his ad-
vances in the evening, satisfied him that to
ask for the situation so much desired, would
be altogether vain
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