Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-02-02
PASS 1T BY,


''John.'' said Mrs. Jones sho took off
her working apron after washing up the tea
dishes, sslet'S go over to Smiths and sit a.
while this pleasant evening. It'll rest you
take d short walk after sitting all day upon
the bench, and I'd like TO have an old fashion
ed chat with Mary
.'To Smith'si'' exclaimed the little tailor,
with stare of surprise, he removed his
segar from his lips, and turned around in his
CHAIR 10 scan his wife's features, as if to as
sure himself of her sanity. "And what on
Garth should we go over there for 3''
sfH hy, to make visit of course, and why
shouldn't we ~
s'Reascn enough, should think, why we
should not, and I'm astenished to hear you
propose such thing. Why, what has come
over the woman ali of a sudden 7'' and Mr.
Jones peered into tho face of his wife, and
paused Tor reply.
ssNen, Ell tell You what, John, I've been
thinking about our trouble with our neighbors
great deal lately, and I've made up my
mind that it isn't pleasant to live this way,
indulging in hard feelings, and allowing our
selves to say unkind things, and harp upon
the old string that ought to have been worn
out long sgo; and | believe that the best
thing we can do, is to let these unpleasant
matters drop entirely, ,and renew our intimacy
and try to avoid quarreling in future"
.EWeIl, I'm willing to do SO, if Smiths
folks want to but think it belongs to them
TO make the first advances-they the most
40 blame-and / feel as though it would be q
little too much like crawling, to be the first to
try to make up. If Smith will only say that
he was wrong, and ask me to overlook his
f4ult, I'll forgive him from the bottom of my
heart, and we'll shake hands, and be friends !;
but you know be did use me real mean about
those groceries"
s:Yes; think Mr.. Smith was to blame
have never changed my mind, in the least,
20 that, and think, too, that it belongs to
him, as the first otiunder, to make some ac-
acknowledgements TO you; but L know that he
never will do it ; and though as you say, it
does seem if they ought to come to us first,
yet L know they never WILL Mary never
would, anyhow; 1 know her of old. She's is
as inImovable as a rock. l have heard her
say that she believed that the hardest thing in
the world that could be required of her, would
be to acknowledge fault, and that, If she once
got angry at a person, she did not think she
could ever forget it, and loye that person as
well in future. Now, in this state of things
we only getting more and more estrangcd,
and am tired of it. don't feel happy it
seems TO me that We ought to do right, wheth-
er others do right or not; and |, for one, feel
sorry that anything Of the kind exists ~
$50 do L; but whose fault is it, pray tell ."
,tisn't ours, certainly"
.sNot ours to begin with perhaps but We
have helped to widen the breach, and no doubt
we have done wrong, l know that ii is wrong
to cherish such bitterrcsentment, and to speak
50 harshly of any one, as we have of them.
And John, don't believe you realize the
amount of evil that we have taken into our
hearts since this difficulty arose. Why, don't
YOU know that We are getting so that We pick
flaws with everything that Mr.. Smiths folks
do. We envy them their posperity; we Sc
cretly rejoice at their misfortunesi we feel
Jealous of every movement that they make
charging them with bad motives, and credit
ing every evil rumor that is circulated about
them. Why, feel, sometimes, as though [
had snned more than they have have mag
'nified their faults have forgotten my own
sins, in looking at theirs; and this morning,
when prayed, 'FoegiUe US our trespasses as
zee forgiut those pho trespass against 1sn L
was really shocked when thought what /
had asked for Oh, If God forgives me as
forgive them, 1 fear shall have but small
chance Of salvation"
Mrs. Jones was getting warmed mp with her
subject, and she sank back in the rocking
chair which she bad taken beside her husband,
and covering her face with her hands, sne sat
for some time in silence; but, as Mr. Jones
m ade no reply, she rocked forward, and tap
ping the floor with her feet, she fdgetted a.
bout a moment, and began again:
81 know what you are thinking OF john.
/ know that 1 have always held you back
when yon felt disposed to make any advances,
and that have said ten words to your one
about Mr.. Smith and his wife but that is my
way, YOU know. What l do, do with my
might i; and now that feel the necessity of
exercising forbearance, want to be as thor
ough in the good work. as was active in the
evil practice OF denouncing everything our
neishbors did suspectinf all their intentions