Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-07-16
Gbuite poatrp.
For the Fayetteville Obseruer.
Ridieule! What is It?

10 form this petty weapon OF piho
inferior Are kindness, truth and charity,
The fruits that grow and ripen on this tre'
Of monstrous growth, whose blighting shadow
filings
+ Distortion, mildew, on all beauieous things
The good, the pure. the lovely, none can hes
Entire, the odor of this noxious tree.
The lofty mind, whose athosphereis found
Above the silly, vexing, toilsoms round
OF fashion, and the trifing fruitless cares,
Ofknowing what Miss this,o that one wears
Or what Mrs Profusion has for dinner,
Or how herneigbbor, that awful sinner.
Disposes of her time. Amidst her books,
Or studying attitude and killing looks?
Or if Miss V. dips snuff, OF chews tobacco
Affects simple dress only for lack o.
A little more ssilyer-without which you
Talents, or wit, or goodness make no show;
But like the gem unset, looks worthless, tame
'Besidet inferior paste. in gaudy, gilded
| d
frame.
Thought trespasses upon the rights OF others
In no way thinking them sisters and brothers
And cherishing for all kindness and charity,
Yet oft must feel the chill of that dark
shadowe6 tree,
Which nurtured by the constant cesse.ess care
Of those who seek or find a shelter there.
Conscious of inferiority the shallow mind,
Hopes in affected scorn and ridicule to find
A refuge; and his own deficiency
To hide, by perching in his favorite tree
From whence secure, exultin gly he strings
His bow, and chuckling o'er the imagined
things
BY which he hopes to bring his victim down,
To his own level, knowing well the frown
Ofprejudice and pride, once fully put in mo-
ton,
Sweeps o'er all barriers, as does the surging
See how industrionsly he plies the string,
Twang, twang, the bow the well aimed
missiles fling:
Malice, envy, spite and self-conceit combi ned,
Form ammunition plenty, for his grov'ling
mind.
Amusing scene: behold the petty war
All on one side; the victim is SO far
Above the, idle. vicious. wrangling fool
Whose weapons are deceit, falsehood and
ridiculs,
That though it cast a shadow for awhile,
Over the pure and good, causing malice to
smile
With bitter leer, while envy plumes herwin
And vanity affectedly, repeats her silly
things,
1t cannot harm the pure, truth loving mind
That seeks not in frivolity its happiness to
find,
Nor can it dim the ray of genius given
To them who humbly own the gift OF
Heaven,
Or mar the happiness of minds secure
In strength to combat or smilingly endure,
The petty shafts of ridicule oft hurled
BY the low, ignorant scavengers of the world,
At those who nature has with loving care.
Blessed with more gifted minds, or forms
more fair,
Yet. who can teach the blind conceited fool
That all his low-bred slang and ridicule
Falls only on himself; as water thrown
Against the wind, back in his face is blown
Harmless as wives that hiss around rocky
shore, Their roar
That proudly smiling stands. regardless Of
With lofty brow encircled by wreaths of varied
hue. land new
Embems of worth and truth, forever bright
Is ridicule, when thrown at noble minds
That seeking goodin all things, often finds
There from to extract good where harm wai
meant,
And pitying thank the hand the missile sent
Though broad the shadows of this foul, dark
tree,
Its fruits are harmless as we plainly see,
| To all except the boorish, sneaking hind,
| Who seeks no better resource for his grov'ling
mind,
Than striving to begrim and mutilate
All that is good and pure, lofty or great,
Thinking to place upon common level ols
/ Earths favored, gifted ones with the low rab-
As well attempt to mar yon glowing sun,
By shooting at it with a penny pop-gun.
Then think not, you by ridicule can bring
The lofty down, with torn and sullied wing
But rather seek in your own heart and mind,
Some latentspark oftruth and honesty to find
And bring it thence with cautious, jealous care
Then let your every energy be centered there
Regardless Of the mote in others eyes; [ris'
Clear your own vision that seeing you ma,