The Portland daily press., 1862-10-21
MISCELLANEOUS.
About Fretting.

Fretting is unpleasant. 1t tsprings from an
pleasant feelings 1t is attended with unpleas-
ant looks 1t is accompanied with unpleasant
tones of voice. 1t gives TO the one who frets,
and to everything about him, an unpleasant
appearance. And especially does ii make the
one at whom the charge is directed feel ex-
ceedingly unpleasant. Everything about fret
ting is unpleasant
Fretting is unproftable 1t is no benefit TO
him who irets: unless perhaps he feels some
what relieved, as when ipecacuana has taken
its desired eflect.) 1t is of no benefit to any
who may chance to hear it. And certainly it
can be of no benefit to any who do not. And
hence it is benefit to nobody. And hence it
is Improbable, which was to be shown.
Fretting is ungenerous. 1t is doing on our
part, what We do not like TO have done. 1t is
treating others as we do not like to be treated.
Fretting indicates a narrow, sordid mind and
a soul shriveed and contracted. Generous,
magnanimous souls do not condescend to stoop
to what is so low. Fretting is repulsive and
it is expulsive. 1t makes those about us wish
that they or we could be somewhere else. We
read somewhere, that sit is better to dwell in
the corner OF housetop," than "in wide
house" with certain individuals; and there is
good deal of truth in "Proverbial Philosophy"
especially the 'ancient edition. To illustrate
this point still further, it is said that certain
qaadrupeds disafiect certain others, and turn
them out of doors, simply for the reason that
they have way OF making their own presence
not agreeable.
Frettng is undignifed. To give way to
fretfulness is unbecoming the dignity of ra-
tiona being. Little perplexities, or great ones,
should not be allowed to ruffie the mind and
make fool of the tongue. A proper selfre-
spect does not allow this. Example: Sir Isaac
Newton was above fretting. Once, on leaving
his study, his little dog upset his lamp, and
thus destroyed the manuscripts of some of his
great works which had cost him the labor of
years. On returning, and seeing what was
done, the great philosopher did not fret, but
calmly said to his little dog, diamond, thou
little knowest the mischief thou hast done me-
and as calmly went about repairing his loss.
Fretting is unchristian. Its unbecoming in
any, and especially in those who bear the Chris
tian name. 1t is an unpromising symptom. 1t
argues badly. The Christian religion does not
beget fretfulness. Christ does not fret, nor ap-
prove OF it in his followers. Fretting does not
deserve even to be called the dust which flies
from the wheels of the celestial chariot. Ha-
bitual fretters have yet the .Hill Difficulty"
TO climb before they get up to the Higher
Life"
Frettng is unnecessary. II it is unpleasant.
and Improbable. and ungentee, and undigni-
fed and unchrstan, what can be urged in its
favor? If nothing, then it must be unnecessa-
ry. Andif unnecessary, why practice ii
Why not at once make an end OF it-have it
extertninated? When there is so much that is
good, what need have we of that which is evil
1t was an old dilemma OF the schoomen, "There
are two things we ought not to fret ABOUT
what we can help, and what we cannot" If
we are fretting about what we can help, then
help it, and stop trettng. But if we are fret
ting about what we cannot help, then fretting
will accomplish nothing; and we may as well
stop. In either case fretting is unnecessary
and unayailing.-iCo iCongregationalis