The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-02-12
Good Nature.

From Beecher's Eyes and Ears.
If there be one thing for which a man should
more greatful than another ii Is the possession
of good nature. l do not consider him good
tempered who has no temper at all. A man
ought to have spirit, strong, earnest, and ca>
pable of great imagination. We like to hear
a man thunder, once in a while, if it is genuine
and IN the right way for a right man. When a
noble fellow IS brought into contact with mean
and little ways, and is tempted by unscruplous
natures to do unworthy things, OF when a great
and generous heart perceives the wrong done
oy lordly strength to shrinking, unprotected
weakness: or where the man sees the foul mis-
chiefs that sometimes rise and cover the public
welfare like a thick cloud of poisonous Yspors
we like to hear a man express himself with
out5urst and glorious anger. 1t makes us feel
safer to know that there are such men. We
respect human nature all the more to know
that it is capable of such feelings,
But just these men are best capable of good
nature These are the men upon whom a sweet
justice in common things, and q forbarance to-
wards men in all the details of life. and q pls-
cable, patient and cheerful mind. sit with pc.
culiar grace.
Some men are much helped to do this by a
kind of bravery born with them. Some are'good
natured because they are benevolent, and all
ways feel in a sunny mood; some because
they have such vigor and health that care flies
off from them, and they really cannot feel net
tied and worried some, because q sense of
character keeps them from all things unbecom-
ing manliness; and some, from an overflow of
what may be called in part animal spirits, and
in part, also, hopeful and cheerful dispositions.
But what ever be the cause or reason, IL there
any thing else that so much blesses q man in
human life as this voluntary or involuntary
good nature? Is there any thing else that con-
verts all things so much into enjoyment to himS
And then what a glow and light he carries
with him to others Some men come upon
you like a cloud passing over the sun. You do
not know what ais you, but you feel cold and
chill while they are about, and need an extra
handful of coal on the fire whenever they
tarry long.
Others rise upon you like daylight. How
many times does p cheerful and hopeful ply
stefan cure his patient by what he carriesin his
face. more than by what he carries in his med
ical case! How often does the comisg Of 4
happy hearted friend lift you ont Of r deep De-
spondency, and, before you are awar, inspire
you with hope and cheer. "What a gift it is to
make all men better and happier without
knowing it. We don't suppose that flowers
know how sweet they are. We have watched
them but as far as we can find out their thoughts
flowers are just as modest as they are beauti-
full.
These roses before me, s~allatine, lsmarque
and ~satfrano, with their geranium leaves (rOsel
and carnation abutilon, have made me happy
for a day. Yet they stand huddled together
in my pitcher without seeming to know my
thoughts OF them. or the gracious work they are
doing And how much more it is to have II
disposition that carries with it, in~voluntarily
sweetness, calmness, courage, hope and happi-
ness, to all who are such? Yet this ia the por~
ton of good nature in a real large minded,
stro ng-naturcd man! When it has made
him happy it has scarcely begun its office.
In this world, where there is so much real
sorrow, and so much unnecessary grief of fret
worry; where burdens are so heaAy, and the
way SO long; where mrn tumble in rough paths
many push them down rather than help them
up where tears are common as smiles. and
hearts ache so easily, but are poorly fed on
higher Joys, how grsatful ought we to be that
God sends along, here aud there, a natural heart
singer--a man whose nature is large and lu>
minous, and who, by his very carriage and
spontaneous actions, Gains, cheers, and helps
his fellow. God bless the good nRtured, for
they b~less.for they bless every body else.