The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-02-09
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WEDN ESDAY, FEBRUARY Q. 1853
Surprise ViSits.

V i6ibr.
The practice OF coming una wares upon
our friends with conspiracy to SUR
prise j. growing practice, and one
which Just row finds many who defend
aud practito IT, On the other hand there
are not wanting 'hose---cynicai creatures
who rail at the custom, Us some will ut
every new fashion, and among these We
notice somo Of our brethren Of the quill,
who denounee the whole thing az a stran.
ger 10 good breeding-having no place in
respectable society, We would however
be INDUCED in expressing thought or
two suggested by the subject.
True gentiity is not conventional or
de6nable by rules tolerable article may
be manufactured by rules and recipes,
which with slight tests and little inspec-
ton, generally passes very current, but
the genuine articles is a spontaneous
growth from pure and generous impulses.
An act which is prompted by opposite mo.
tives, though never so gentecly done, lacks
the essential element of true gentility.
Again, the most ungraceful acts may mark
most plainly the true gentleman by this
standard We fear some of the surprise
parties Of this time will hardly bear ex-
animation How is it my young friends,
have you ever been conscious of mali
cious pleasure in precepitating several
sleieh'loads of unexpected guests upon an
unprepared friend, who was unable to dis
guise her vexaticn ? IF so, you have been
guilty Of very i'll hammered act, and the
most sensible thing you can do is to make
yourself ashamed Of it as speedily as pos
sible, and set about such a reformation of
your heart US will have an improving in.
huence upon your manners.
If, on the other hand, from your knowl.
edge of your friend and her present cir.
cumstances, you have reason to believe
that such surprise would be pleasant,
the terms Of the case are all reversed.
But this surprise mania might be turn.
ed to excellent account. while bringing the
highest credit and pleasure to those who
indulge in it. We have seen the parson.
age invaded, with good effect upon Pastor
and Pensioners. The practice needs no
commentator. But we would sug.
gest to those who feel the necessity of
gratifying this Surprising propensity, that
it will be easy to find families that would
at any time be in preparation to receive
you and from your hands whatever they
might bring to minister to their pressing
necessities. Your reception might not be
graceful, but the impulses which could
move you on such mission would speedily
open a vein of sympathy which would
Danish all embarrassment, and you would
feel yourselves the children of the same
Parent and near the same level. How
many a victim Of circumstances is within
your reach whose heart might be glad
dened by n slight contribution from your
stores Or your purse How many an
aching heart might be made joyful by
words of fraternal sympathy which tell
that though God has given us different To-
cations in His vineyard, he has placed no
barriers between US. An occasional sur.
prise perpetrated in this way would have
very salutary effect in reconciling us to
our lot, whatever it may be, and treasures
thus laid up would yield rich returns in
the life that now is Seek then the in6rm
the needy and the sorrowful, and follow
ing your hearts best impulses, you will
rarely depart from good breeding, or make
unpleasant surprises.