The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-03-11
GOOD NATURE.

GOOD NATURE.
Good Nature! Blessed be the word, and
more blessed be the thing signified! 1t would
not be safe to assign it a rank. Yet, if there is
another virtue more useful, more agreeable
we do not know its name And what singular
discrimination in the name! Most terms indi-
catve of feeling regard the feeling as the effect.
But here the cause is used to form the name.
1t is state of the nature. 1t is that condition
OF the whole disposition which ncines it to-
wards others welfare. Good Nature is the
shining out of kind and benevolent feelings in
the social intercourse of men. II is love, not
IN its higher moods and ecstaces dressed
in robes OF fancy, or walking in the high places
OF life, but love in its everyday clothes aid in
the homey places of common life, performing
minor social duties.
Is there any difference between Cheerfulness
and Good Nature? Cheerfulness is a more
active state and though it usually carries
kindness with it, there is something besides
element OF luminousness, a hOpefulness ard
sparkle-that tend 10 eXhilarate. Cheerfulness
is always hopeful; Good Nature may be sad
Cheerfulness is always demOnstrative and
forthcutting; Good Nature may be Quiet and
self-contained. A man can hardly be cheer
full without being good-natured; bit he may
De good natured without being cheerful
CheeriulnesS tells US that man is himself
happy, but Good Nature shows us that he
would have other people happy. 1t is said
that merry heart maketh q cheerful face :"
and that merry heart doeth good like naedi-
cine, but Good Nature does good like food
II you read, sicks, Responding, if you are
lonesome, weary or forboding, then comes
Cheerfulness in friends face like a raw Of
light after storm; it does do good like med-
cine, and it is the pleasantest medicine to
take that ever patient had presented to him
in allopathic doses
Cheerful folks are Gods natural Comforters.
Deep and abiding sorrows cannot be driven
away by mere shining face. These require
stronger treatment. But great and real from
pies are not the most frequent. The fiocks
and broods OF grief are mostly made up of
petty things resulting from transient djsap-
polntment. WEAKNESS. misunderstanding NOR
tilted vanity, wounded pride. These settle
down ON the mind as mists do in the low places
OF the field, and cheerlulness falls upon them
just as sunlight does upon morning mists. and
shoots radiance through them, sets them in
motion, and moves them off and dissipates
them utterly. There are some persons that
are blessed with such shining faces that il
would be well to employ them as neighbour
hood missionaries, and keep in Office as minis
tiers of Cheerfulness
But Good Nature, while it NAV not make
such positive demonstrations as Cheerfulness
lying further in, and being more of the nature
OF an inward disposition or state of mind, need
not lear comparison with its fellow grace and
for that matter, with any other virtue
1t Is the natural antidOte and prophvlactic.
II Is to temper what moisture is to fire. 1t
Withstands Its outbreak, and when temper is
aflame Good Nature puts it out Good Nature
III shop, on voyage, upon a journey. among
workmen, among companions, in the camp. is
a wonderful preventive of mischiefs. and the
archmaster OF happiness! In so far as peace
making is concerned, one good-natured man is
worth dozen merely conscientious ones For.
ana we say in whisper, not to be overheard
by the stern faculty of which we speak. Con-
science Is not select or wise in choosing its
company!
The world would die without it, but is some
times like to be killed by it. If Conscience
would only fall in love with Benevolence and
go always in its company! But it walks out
with Wilfulness. with Compativeness, with
Sell Concet SO often. that all their faults are apt
10 DC charged to its account, and with some
reason. And so 1t comes to pass that, i'm as
senblles OF men conscience is apt to produce
turmoil and Obstinacy and contention for it
iehos It's ears to bad advisers, and uses its au-
thorlty to put into law the dis positions ofpride
and cOnceit
Now, Good Nature cannot be made the in
strument of any malign feeling. 1t NAV err
the other way-be a little lax in principle. a
little Indifferent to moral qualities. little more
anxious Tor peace than for rectituie; but this |
is fault easily guarded against, and all good |
men know that truth and purity are more |
likely TO come out of benevolent dispositions |
than out OF cOntentiOusness and the ascerbties |
OF badly cOunseled conscience. One might |
almost change the phrase of Scripture. and.
instead OF peacemakers say, Blessed are the
good natured men )" for if they are not the
peacemakers, they are the fathers of them.
Then, in the household, what treasure is
GOOD Nature! 1t is the oil that makes wheel |
and spring and hinge move easily and 81 emily.
w ithOut it everything CRATES and creaks: with
it things move softly and harmoniousiy. A
good disposition is of more value to domestic
happiness than any, and had almost said all |
other dispositions together. Good Nature is
not only itself a great good. but, like warm
and SUNNI r atmosphere, it promotes thous
and growths that would not otherwise come
lorih. IL stimulates all that is good in men,
md gives chance for amiable traits to spring
without fear OF being cropped by the malign
feelings
Would it not be well if little pains w ara
aiken to increase this generous and noble dis. |
position? Would there be any harm in nreoc6- |
ng aoout II, sometimes? Are there not hun
lreds OF parishes in which generations have
grown up without hearing q sermon on Good
Nature ~ on "ooo
Would 1t not be well, in such sermon to
convince and convict parents of the sin of
destroying Good Nature in their
;nildreh Dy their own example, by all that in
iulgence which enfeebles health and acnmi-
lates The nerves, by injudicious and passionate
government, by unreasonable and proyoking
by taunting and teasing their chill,
lren ana permitting them to do the same thing
lmong themselves? INV '"'''o ''''"7
Due VIC must pause, or these remarks will be
lfawn out to length TINT will destroy in our
,s the very quality which we wish to in
8 II any society shall be got up in consequence
:, 'nese suggestions, we wish to join; and if
NY premium is offered for this gu llity, we will
,ot promise to compete, but would sit as one OF
he committee.
-The Tribune says Gen. BUTLER has con-
iuded. an arrangement with Commissioner
)uLD for an exchanue of nrisnners