American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-02-14

~A~FS oaD SOAhC ludlNluuAl5 WHO oSt III
disposed never to forgive or forget an ia
jury, no matter how amply atoned for. or
how long perpetrated. They seek ven
geance, and thus they nurse their bitter
feelings for years. This, as it strikes us,
IS . false policy in many points of yiew.-
1t is difficult to pursue the journey Of life,
without joistling against some one, or be-
ing joistled against ourselves. And If on
every occasion, we should hoard up the
III feeling thus caused, our life would be.
come one long scene Of care and anxiety.
dissatisfaction and distrust. The wiser
planis TO forgive and forget; to regard
human nature as fallible and imperfect.
The most candid often discover that they
have committed sins Of omission or com
mission. that they have cansed pain, i'm
paired confidence, and provoked i'll will.
They may not have intended any thing Of
the kind, and yet, hasty remark, or even
asudden look, has perhaps bad The sad
effect. There are, perhaps, few persons
In the world, who are without enemies.--
Hsonstimes happens, too, that they can
not discover when and where they-gave
the oferee, and thus they are unable to
explain ormake reparation. Neverthe-
less, eFer and anon, some little incident
occurs. calculated 10 show that the feel
ing still exists, that the enmity still lives,
and that en- opportunity is never lost on the
part Of the aggrieved party to retaliate
and seek retribution. Itis extremely diff
ficult to bear all this, quietly. The better
SngeP will whisper generous policy, but
the little demons" Of anger and passion
which always finds place in the human
mind and the human heart, are apt to
prompt a course Of retalishoh, and thus
the parties become still mere widely sep.
aIated. ~
A day or two since we happened 10 cofl
verse with two old politicians. who, in
years gone by, had been zeaIously op-
posed 10 each other. As they psr.ed, we
expressed our surprise to one. especially
as the other had travelled out Of his way to
assail him with more than ordinary warmth.
This reply was.--'1 never nurse my en-
mites. Life has troubles and anxieties
enough in the present. without hunting up
the difficulties of the past" The remark
was full OF wisdom and philosophy. If
we keep constantly before US all the anxi-
eties Of former years--if we never forgive
or forget an ofFenceA-if we vex and per
plex ourselves in relation to things that
have gone by--if wsreoall, revive and re-
mourn the buried friends of other periods,
memory viii become curse to us, and the
darkness Of the past will constitutes per-
petual shadow, and chill. deprers and an
noy. If, moreover, We do not forgive
others, how can we hope for; forgiveness
ourselves? If again we magnify into se-
rious errors the thoughtless indiscretion Of
a man of passion. Of piqueor Of prejudice,
and foster such errors for years-how can
we look for more generous judgment in
relation to our own infrmities.'
a The frame of mind is most to be envied,
which is at peace with all the world
which feels that it has never wilfully COM
mitted wrong or inflicted anrinjury-and
that therefore there exists no Just cause
for hostility or ill-will. 0tcourse perfeo-
tion cannot be found on earth. All are
certain to err more or less; but it is,in the
power of oil. either to explain an uifinten-
tioual wrong, or to make reparatiOn; and
this door. the cause for anger on the part
of the',injured should cease. But how
often do we hear individuals exclaim, even
on the receipt of slight injury. that they
''will pursue the offender to the grave. -
They forget their own. errors and in6rmi-
ties. and often misapprehend the facts
Difficulties frequently occur. because Of
contrary views. One person may be ftms
! ly impressed with'a particular version Of
a transaction, while another may recellect
the incident in light or spirit exactly the
reverse. Both, too, may be confident acd
conscientious. Why, then should discsrd
ensue, friendship be broken, enmiiy en-
I gendsred? Bat il, in the excitement of
the hour, one or both should so forget the
| proprieties of life as to use harsh and un-
authorized language. the honorable and
manly course is TO take back the improper
words at the first opportunity, and thus, if
possible to repair tho wrong. and neutral
izo the sting. This. however, is not the
way of the world, generally speaking.-
The unkind feeling thus hastily caused is
nursedj becomes source of bitterness
through life, and often desceuds, unsooth-
ed and unsatisfed to the grave. In most
cases, neither party will explain. Often.
too, the cause of differenceis reported to
other persons and in exaggerated ltsrms;
these repeat it again, until q deadly feud
is produced. The enmity Is uursed and
strengthened from day to- day and from
year to year, and finally becomes a pas
sion, and forms part and parcel Of the
very nature. ~. a.
And yet. we repeat, this is all wrong,
unwise. irreligious. and unjust, It'll far
better to forgive and forget, 10 explain and
repair, than to kSepupa constant source
Of anxiety, especially ifthe error be ours,
or if tho mutual And even when we
know or believe that we are the aggrisged
OF, injured party. il is at least msguahim-
Gus to seek and be satisfied with an ex-
PLANTATION. The enmites that's are nursed
and thus kept constantly alive. become
demons in the end. which NOT only irri-
tate the mind and embitter the heart, but