The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-05-12

Her heah Tor felneSSe, which she Inward hid
| But she heard of i'll that any did
| Or harme that any had, then would she make
! Great cheare, like one unto a banquet bid
/ And in anothers lossc great pleasure take
As she had got thereby, and gayned a grea
stake"
Such souls are not animated by noble
qualities their scale of contemplation is
pitiably limited, else they could see that
there is nothing in this world that is re
ally worth envying, with all its hidden OIL
exposed undesirable appendages.
La Rochefoucould said that "the truest
mark of being born with great qualities
is being born without envy" which is IN
deed the essence of all detraction.
Why can not every one be willing to
accord to every other that merit which
Justly belongs to him or her, without
sprinkling it thickly with veuomous de-
traction, when nothing is ever permanent
| ly gained by doing otherwise {? 1t is just
ly observed that there is nothing more
universally commended than a fine day;
the reason is that people can commend it
without envy" But it might be added,
that even fine day is discovered to have
flaws of wind or weather, when it is asso-
ciated with the particular use of another
for something which kindles the spirit of
envy. . .-
2. We owe to others when injured by
detraction, in theirabsence, defense, when,
ever it is in our power.
However great may be professions of
friendship, that person is no good friend
to another who will silently listen to the
detaction other reputation, when it could
not be improper for her to speak. "The
popular gale will never carry truly good
hearts and sound understandings Noble
is that outspoken word of friendly truth
which defends the absent from the asper-
sions of dctraction. Thrice beloved should
be such friends
"Grapple them to thy soulwth hooks ofsteel."
5. 1t is our duty to judge of others as
charitabIy as possible If one performs
an act which appears somewhat reprehen-
sible, we should endeavor to place as ta-
vorabie construction on it as possible No
lady should ever allow herself to receive
reports which are injurious to another's
reputation without due allowance for
the uncharitableness of the world, from
which incorrect assertions are manufae-
turcd. .... ........- .......
"Only think" exclams one lady friend
to another, such lazy has done thus
and so. Did you ever hear the like?-
What will people say now?"
Returns her companion, II always sus-
pected as much. Doubtless there is a
great deal more to this than is known as
yet
The first speaker then passes to anoth-
er individual and repeats the tale with
this addition My friend, Mrs. A, says
that she has known about this ior a great
while, and there is great deal more
which is worse than people imagine to be
yet divulgedl | don't know what she
means, but by the way she looked it must
be crin1e!" .......s .......
The third person then reports it to her
friends that ''such a one is found out at
last to be guilty f crime, and many peo-
pie have known it for long time"
Thus, By such uncharitableness, are
regulations ruined. ..+. ........ .
Again friendships are often broken
by uncharitable suspicious
"Who would have thought that Of one
whom l have 50 long supposed to be my
firm friend!" comments lady to herself
of some act which has dispeased her
"She sighted me. This comes of her
recent good luck. I should not have
thought that she would be so lifted up.
She thinks [ am beneath her now"
The aggrieved one hen mentions this
to her friends in the fulIness of her wound
ed spirit. Her old and excellent friend
is reported to have become changed to a
proud woman of the world. Perhaps she
otherwise seeks retaliation, till feud of
no ordinary nature is occasioned. In a
majority of these instances it is soon as
certained that the unconscious offender
had not the slightest design of injuring
her friends feelings. Some other circum-
stance unknown to the uncharltable ac-
quaintance interviewed to naturally prevent
the doing of what was undone.
We should beware Of harsh judgment,
especially OF those whom we have hither-
to weighed in the balance of worth and
not found wanting A true and wise
friend should not be lost in such a spirit
without first counting the cost. "Chari-
ty suffereth long and is kind, :. is not
easily provoked, thinketh no evil 80 I'd
1t is not wise to 60 after evil by un-
eharitableness If it comes to us we
should endeavor to dismiss 1t as quickly
and judiciously as possible.
1t is our drty to be charitable in our
Judgments of even the most fallen and
wretched A true and noble woman will
Il.