The weekly Columbian., 1857-05-09
0It,s Only L TrMe."


about to be guilty of some petty extrava-
gance, excuse themselves by saying ''it's
only triAe." Awife is buying a new
dress for herself, and, tempted by beau
tiful silk, pays mere for pattern than she
ought, but quiets her conscience and en-
deavors to satisfy her husband by reitera-
ting that the difference was "only atrife." :"
A husband increases the style of his liv-
ing little in everything-in house, in
furniture, in table, in dress; and as each
by itself seems small affair, he overlooks
the aggregate, which, alas is no "trife. /"
A mechanic squanders twenty-five cents
daily in beer, spirits or cigars, forgetting
that in year it comes to seventy-6ve
dollars, or the interest of twelve hundred
and fifty dollars; and he goes on doing
this for a lifetime, keeping himself i'm
poverished all the while, saying "it's only
a triAe." Only triAe! Fortunes are
made up ofjust such trifes. "Take care
of the pennies" says Richard, "and the
pounds will take care of themselves.
Men who economist in tfifling expenses
are the men who oftenest become mil
lionaires. The housewife who saves the
trihes rarely wants bread and butter.
What IS true of money is true also Of
the least trihe. A father comes home at
night, worn out by days labor and ir-
rtable in consequence; his children an
Intentionally, annoy him, and he speaks
angrily to them. The tears come into
the little ones eyes and their lips quiver
as they turn away; but he dismisses his
remorse, saying to himself, ''it's only a
trife" Alas many child has been
alienated from parcnt-many father
has lost his influence over his offspring
by trifles like these. Or husband,
peevish with his wife, little by little wears
out her affection. Or a wife selfshly
thinking of her own cares only, and ma
king no allowance for the irritability of a
husband, tired and jaded by days ex-
hausting toll, answers sharply at the first
impatient word, and so either drives him
to the tavern or causes matrimonial
quarrel Or friends, in moments of spleen
listen to malicious tale bearers, and think
each other false. Or jealous lovers, Of
tended by "tlifles light as air." break of
their engagements in pet. In truth, i,
is oftener small things that breed dissen.
sion than great. In matter of affection
there is no such thing as t,if1e.
We hear casuists talking sometimes o.
great and minor morals. 1t is distinc
ton without difference. There are nc
such things as trihes in ethics. The mos
atroci, US crimes come from small begin
nings. and it is only slowly and gradual
ly that the character is undermined
The man who perpetrates murder to
day would have said ten years ago, 81
thy servant dog, that he should do thi.
thing?" Every babe that smiles in it
mothers arms is innocent alike. Some
times it is intemperance which makes the
savage assassin; sometimes it is lust
sometimes it is greed of tnoney; some
times it is some other subtle, persistent
soul-de>troying vice. Sometimes the
deed is done in a fit of sudden passion
and then the crime has its origin remotel,
in an ill-regulated temper. Sometimes
it is planned deliberately. and executed
coolly and diabolically. In this case the
conscience has been laid to sleep by long
years of secret wickedness. Trihes il
morals! There are but two roads which
the soul can take-one right, the othel
wrong-and movement in either di
rection projects line which runs on, di
verging eternally. The good become
more virtuous continually, the bad more
vicious. Even repentance cannot worl
out an immediate reformation; for ole
habits are too strong, and have gradual
ly to be conquered. Oh! there is nj
such thing as trihe.
A STRANGE ADvENTURE-Mr, Red