The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1859-03-10

OF loudly publishing his neighbor' shame;-
On eagles wings immortal scandals fly,
While Virtuous actions are but born and die.
--HARvEY. |
In fact, there's nothing makes me so much grirve |
As that abomnsblc titte-tattle,
Which is the cud eschew'd by human cattle.
--BYRoN's Don Juan.
How eagerly do we attach en- unkind inter
pretation to the best intended acts of our fellows.
Any charitable deed, when performed in quiet
christian like manner. once known TO society
affords gossiping tongues food for every species
Of conjecture aud is sure to convince them o!
the truth that oil is not gold that glitters. Par.
ticulary is this the case when a gentleman ex-
tends his charity to a fascinating young widow
or especially when "grass-widow" is the
subject of his benevoence. 1t matters not how
needy the poor unfortunate lady may be--ne-
cessity often leads people to commit acts which
otherwise would be stoutly ress,ed;- MAJ
not how long and severe may be the toll which
secures her scanty rament aud homely fare-so
ciety is only too willing TO impute wrong mo
tves to the strong arm that is extended for re-
lief. Let us illustrate by fact which came un-
der our own observation, and which may not BE-
new to all Of our readers.
A handsome young lady, who mourned the lost
sweets of matrimony, located in beautiful vii
lagc and having none Of tlis worlds goods on
which to rely for her support she was compelled
to toll with untiring energy for meagre sus-
} tenaucc. As every one acquainted with the
reward for needle service must know, even the
most incessant labor afforded her but the merest
excuse for decent living and as for furnishing
her narrow apartments with comfortable or
even necessary furniture, that was entirlly out
of the question. All angels do not wear calico,
as many suppose, and as the sequel o this nara
tive will show. The necessities of this lady
reached the ears of benevolent young man, who
evidently believed, with Byron, that
The driving up single tear has more
| OF honest fame, than shedding seas OF gorc;"
and he at once resolved to present her an article
of furditure which, for brevty only, we shall call
a new stove with which she could prepare her
scanty meals. In obedience to the command
not to let the left hand know what the right be-
slows, he quietly went to one Of his large-heart-
ed companions, and informed him of the benevo:
lent purpose Of his heart. Not willing that
such an opportunity to do good should pass un-
embraced, the person thus "et into the secret"
Immediately asked the privilege of 'going
halves" in the generous deed, and, vicing
r with his informer in,good works, Immediately
posted off and purchased the desired article. -
Knowing the tendency of human nature--es.
pecaly that portion which generally makes up
little vlloses-to distort everything which passes
under review, and not willing to enjoy all the
",uxury Of doing good themselves, they permit
ted benevolent friend, who kept team for
doing such Jobs to haul the stove to the hand
: some subject of their benevoence aud put it up.
well knowing that he would be only too willing
to bcstow such an act of kindness 1t is scarce
ly necessary to say that his part of the benevo-
lent act was performed with becoming grace and
elegance A few days after, the lady having had
fair opportunity to test the qualities of her
stove, and to partially recover from the embar
rassment which such kindness always produces,
the Inauguration of the benevolent act, called
to see how the stove opera ted and to lend lit
tie cheer to the fair recpient Of his bounty
Like all deserving subjects of aid she feigned
ignorance OF the real purpose of her kind heart
ed visitor, and at once proposed to return him
portion of the outlay with promise that the
balance should be forthcoming as soon as her
industrious fingers could earn ii. or course he
declined to receive pay for that which he had
SO freely given, and what thrill Of sympathetic
joy must have possessed his generous heart, ,as she
said, while the tear drops chased each other in
rapid succession down her lovely cheeks and fell
upon form Of voluptuous beauty, Il thank
you, sir; from the bottom of my heart, thank
you for this uumerted kindness" He is sup
posed to have callel once or twice after this
merely to ascertain whether she had NOT some
otter umsupplicd want, but falling to discover
another opportunity to crafty his benevolent
feelings, his visits ceasel.
The person who purchased the stove, exhibi-
ted commendable zeal aud christian virtue both
by his frequent inquiries about the progress made
by the fair one in her pursuits eftcr worldly
pleasures sand by his entire concealment from her
--she does not know to this day the real hand
that was outstretchcd for her relef;-and the
leamstcr, not to be outdone by his younger RI
walls in errauds of mercy, fearing that to haul
the furniture of the stove on his wagon might
injure it, carried it piece by piccei and after
: this was accomplished, close observers of pass
ing events declare that he wls frequently seen
! surveying her premises with Jealous eye, as i!
intent on keeping her wood pile well supplied
} and her chickens well fed
These facts finally reached the public ear
perhaps from the recital Of them by the recipient
OF the favor and oh, how they were distorted!
How the bad was made to supercede the good
Intention! 1t is not necessary for us to even
alude to the character of the reports which
were at once freely circulated-thcy suggest
themselves;--nor can we picture the suffering
endured by those three Good Samartans in
p consequence of the gross distortion of their