The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1858-12-23
A FEW OF OUR REFLECTIONS.

A FEW OF OUR REFLECTIONS.
There are many conflicting ideas of
what is nobleness of character. Some
persons suppose that certain bluster
and swagger, a vaunting OF ones sell,
and ones capabilities, that a sort OF
reckless independence of speech and
action, and rash and thoughtless dar.
ing, evince manly nobility OF soul
But it is not so--all true noblcness
is closely allied to humility and mod.
,esty. The whole soul is, to be sure
independent and brave, but it is so in
a seemly way. 1t scorns to hang Tor
sustenance upon any human support;
or to be "forever grating itself into its
parent's old trunk and branches 1t
is "independent,' to be sure, but not
for the sake of vanity or spite; on the
contrary, it desires independence that
it may be at liberty to impart good to
others. True nobility respects itself
too much not to render fitting respect
to all others, especiallyto age and to
woman. 1t would blush to speak ii
hasty word to, or harsh word of, a
parent, however much that parent had
done to deserve it,
1t is a stranger to ideness, and too
brave to be discouraged by difficulties.
When hedged up in one direction it
surns patiently and hopefully in anoth-
.er and if it cannot sustain itself by
means which all the world has agreed
to honor, then it takes up an humber
part, and iabors nnhonored' save by
God, until it is called to go up higher
1t isnever known to shrink IRON
duty because the weather proves co'o
or hot, or stormy; or because there are
long aud weary days OF labor and sell
denial before it. Nobleness does not
cry,--"There is lion without; shall
he slain in the Streets" but it says, 81
see the way Of industry and honesty
4 ;t is a narrow way, hard and steS..
way. ButI am no coward, and nc
babe; am strong enough and brave
enough to walk that way-yes, and to
walk it with light heart"
The noJle-hearted are not always
the fauAlcss-lar from it; the most glo
rious victors that this sworId has
known have been those who have beer
obliged to contend fiercly with thei'
own evil tcmpers and lnclina;ions. A
man is not noble according to what
nature did for him at his birth, bu
/. according to what he has courage ant
4 character to do for himself And nc
men are so noble as they who, agalns
faults of early training. against thei'
own impatence, fretfulness, violence
faint-heartedncss, jealousy, selfishness
and thoughtlessness, wage war ant
come off conquerors, las every maj
may who looks unto God for heIp.)-
sSuoh anen are the monuments tina
are a nations glory. They are more
precious than diamonds, and evel
though they never shine out here, the!
will sparkle forever and ever in th'
world to come. But they do shine Oh
here. ....... .... ...... ....
The man who can rule his owl
spirit the noble being who can keep il
subsection all the natural evil of hi
disposition, cannot long be unknown
BY his struggle with himself he form
a character which has too mucl
weight, force, and magnitude to b'
long hid; and men will, in greater o
less degree, be eager TO do him honor
Thus it happens that, while the son
ofmen who gather riches and nourisl
up their children tenderly, indulgin'
all their wishes. and giving them NOR
dollars than blows, detcriorate, an,
come to nothing; while they go abou
hanging on to this relative and thai
wherever they can get the least hold
and are dispiscd and disllked by al
who know them. and are not mourne'
when they are dead; the hardy sons
the poor man, the boys who have com
UP barefooted almost to twenty year
sOf age, and who have been more ac
.customed to hard cuffs and kicks tha
to petting and pudding, rise to the to
0fsociety and fame.
In the last McMinnville New Er
we find another communication froI
'A,' occupying about two column
and composed Of abuse of Finle