Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-07-27
Respecting Others Feeling.

NO one mas Ine right, we care not VINO tney
may be, to act without regard to the feelings
of others. A selfish pursuit of happiness,
where no tie is held sacred, no heart beats in
unison with heart, cannot have for its aim
happiness for itself or others. We are so
constituted that the mere indulgence of our
individual propensities, be it the acquisition
of wealth, or the search for pleasures, will
not satisfy fully. We are dependent one up
on the other, not in the sense of support
merely, but for every necessity of the affec-
tions. Take for instance the career of the
cynic, if there be any such, or the anchorite,
if you will. He wraps himself in a cold
philosophy, and protesting to be above the
weakness of humanity, pursues his lone Jour
ney through life. He cheats himself into the
belief that he has no affections: that he can
act regardless of the feelings of others. But
does he not in the very studies he pursues
with so much ardor, attach himself to the
ideas imbibed, and finally come to love the
authors, and their dogmas? mo man liv-
eth for himself" and we cannot get through
this world with any degree of satisfaction to
ourselves, if we are regardless of the feelings
of others-if we try to tear from our hearts
the tendrils that bind us to our fellow men.
Better let nature be our guide in this. Her
teachings, kindly attended. will secure all
that it is necessary for US to enjoy of happi-
ness and love. When men take the matter
into their own hands, they botch the work
that they Know not how to conduct.
sSF> History is full of interesting incidents
which demonstrate with great force, the in
n---nno" snn---vNerr upon older peo-
pie. 1t is a continuation of the miraculous
workings of the Saviour, who ever chooses the
{ weaker agencies to c%onfound the strong
z Many stony hearts have been broken and the
waters of penitence have gushed from them
freely, when touched by the artless eloauence
of a child. Below is an instance Of a refor-
V nation wrought by a Child's Prayer for it's
Drunken Father:
"A drunkard who had run through his
a property" says DR.. Sehneby, " returned one
night to his unfinished home. He entered
his empty hall anguish was g~nawing at his
', heartstrings, and language was inadequat,
to express his agony as he entered his wife
$ apartments, and there beheld the victims O
m his appetite, his lovely wife and darling child
Morose and s%ullen, he seated himself without
'u a word he could not speak, he could not
IS. look upon them. The mother said to the lit
lite angel by her side, Come, my child, it i
time to 60 to bed :" and that little babe, a
was her wont, knelt by her mothers lap. an,
gazing wistfully into the face of her suffer
ing parent, like a piece of chiselled ~statuary
repeated her nightly orison and when sh
re, had finished, the child (but four years of age
to said to her mother, Dear ma, may | not o
~ fer up one more prayer" YES, yes, IN
IT. sweet pet, pray ;" and she lifted her tin
hands, closed her eyes and prayed, "Oh
st God, spare! Oh spare my dear papa -
That prayer was waited with electric rapid
q" ty to the throne of God. 1t was heard 0
high-twas heard CO earth. The responsiI
ice " amen burst from that fathers lips, and b
heart of stone became a heart of flesh. Wi
: and child were both clasped to his bosom
uF and in penitence, he said. You have save
Tas your father from the grave of a drunkard.-
he I'll sign the pledge!"
lch Below is another instance Of childish 20
yn. err:
md A gentleman not long since, stated ii
in having some whiskey on hand, he asked
for son, a small boy, if he wished to taste it; a
he gave him some but the moment it tou,
ed his lips he few back, clapped his hand
md his mouth, and cried out in an agony of pa
I'm. 20 papa papa papa! it will kill me ]"
Had the little fellow been inspired by FL
ven, he could not have spoken more truly.
Kill thee, my little friend? Yes, as it
killed millions already, and Will kill millio
yet, before the people will sit at the feet
reason and Religion, clothed, and in tn
right mind, with reference to the use of tn
ats diabolical drinks millions who started
pod VIII start back, just as thou didst, at the f
son draught, with hand pressed against their |
ana tears gathering in their eyes, as the bu
ing mud went or will go spasmodically do
ust 10 the as yet nnsophisticated, outraged
kes revolving stomach