The constitutional union., 1861-01-25
NUMBER II.
SINCERITY.

| " are alWayS DelnS eXhOfUeu to De slll- 1 cere. The minister tells us to be sincere, books tell us to be sincere, and parents and l teachers tell us to be sincere. But what if we were really to become so? In sober earn estness, would 1t be right and best never to ''put the best side" on anything, but always to speak the exact truth, according to the thoughts and feelings of our minds?
 When we are requested to confer favor, and don't want to do 1t, ought we to so, in- stead of politely Vand cordially conseting? When friend asks us how we like his ser mon, or lecture, or book, or new mustache, ought we, if we feel so, say we don't like 1t at all, instead of turning the matter off in some pleasant way?
 When we feel lazy, cross, or selfish, ought we to act out those dispositions, in order that we may not play the hypocrite and seem bet ter than we are? If we don't like person, ought we to exhibit our repugnance? In so- ciety people are frequently compelled to shake hands with, and talk and laugh with, those whom they neither respect nor like. What should they do ? offend and mortify one who after all may be, on the whole, morally bet ter than they are, by refusing to exchange with him the amenities of life
 Then how often do you have company when it is perfect bore? Now then, to be per fectly true, would be to tell your visitors that you are sorry to see them, and you wish that they would go directly away. Would that be true? Is it wrong, then, to behave as though you were glad to see them, and to try to rem der their visit happy? Is 1t possible, would 1t be even decent to be alwys sincere! and where is the line to be drawn?
 There was once gentleman who, through the effects of terrible fever, became perfectly open-hearted He never said or did anything that he did not feel like saying and doing, and he seldom thought anything that he did not say. All the disguised thoughts of other years were now spoken-he told people just what he thought of them, and just how he felt towards them.
 For him there was no more conventlOnally he had forgotten that there is use as we'll for the quality of secretiveness as for that of candor, and out came his ideas very truthfully.
 He mortified and offended nearly every friend he had in the world for few people can endure to be twitted on facts" before others espe- cially, and our sincere man had no regard for the number of his hearers when he spoke his mind. He broke the heart of the young lady to whom he was engaged by telling her of things that were her misfortune, not her fault, and by stating that 1t took him great while to learn to endure thought of marrying her" l He added that he never should have loved her if he had not seen how de7otedly she was attached to him and that even now he some times thought 1t must be from sense of duty" that he was going to wed her. People called this man insane; but whyY He at tended properly to all his business he was as competent as ever to take care of himself; all that indicated insanity was his frightful sin certy.
 After many months this gentleman recov- cred his natural state of mind and then he | wonderec at the manner of all his friends. 1 Several of them he never could regain; and | the lady of his love, proud and sensitive, and fully believing in the truth of what he had declared to her, refused utterly to see him and in a few months she died, leaving him to mourn her loss which he did deeply and long for he truly loved her, though his cans dor caused her death.
 l We are all imperfect creatures, and in many ways we render ourselves disagreeabe the one to the other; probably those that love each other best often have thoughts and feelings towards each other, momentary, perhaps, if they last no longer, that would cause deepest pain were they expressed. Wives and hus- bands, even parents and children, have some times felt an emotion of repulsion and disgust towards each other Would it be right ever to let such emotions shape themselves in words Disguised, choked down in silence, they soon die and are forgotten; but be sin cere and own them, and they will live forever in the wounded heart and memory of their object. Eternity could not cause them to be forgotten. We must hide ourselves. We cannot always be sincere, if by sincerity it is meant that we are never to subdue our feel ings or restrain our emotions, as some good people would have us believe. The truth Is, we should be honest and go0d-hearted, and should understand that where no principle, or question of right and wrong is concerned, 1t is our duty to repress all sentiments which, if expressed, would cause pain to others or work mischief to our neighbors or society,"