Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-11-11
A Sermon for Fretters.

xvii.
l. II is sin against God. 1t is
evil and only evil, and that continually.
David understood both human nature and
the la OF God. He says, "Fret not
thyself in any way to do evil )" that IL,
never feet or scold, for it is always sin.
If you cannot speak without fretting and
scolding, keep silence.
2. 1t destroys affection. No one ever
did, ever can. or ever will love an hapitu.
al fretter, fault-fnder, Or scolder. Hus.
bands, wives, children, relatives or do.
mestics, nave no affection for peevish
fretfu fault-fnders. Few tears are shed
over the graves of such. Persons of high
moral principle may tolesato them-may
bear with them but they cannot love
them more than the sting of nettles or
the noise of mosquitoes. Many man
has been driven to the tavern and to dis
sipation, by peevish fretful wife. Many
wife has been made miserable by a
peevish, fretful husband.
3. II is the 6ame Of domestic happi-
ness. A frctful, peevish fault-6nder, in
a family, is like the continued cha6ng of
an infamed sore. Woe to the man, woman
or child, who is exposed to the influence
Of such a temper in another. Nine-te: tbs
of all domestic trials spring from this
source. Mrs. d, is of this temperament.
She wonders her husband is not more
fond of her company; that her children
give her so much trouble; that domestics
do not like to work for her that she can
not secure the COED will of young people
The truth is she is peevish and tretful.-
Children fear her, but do not love her.
She never gained the affection Of young
people, and never will till she leaves off
fretting.
4. II defeats the end Of family gor-
ernment. Good family government is
the blending of authority with affection.
so as to secure respect and love. Indeed
this is the great secret Of managing young
people. Now your fretters may inspire
fear, but they always make two faults
where they correct one. Scolding at a
child, tre,ting at child, sneering at a
child, taunting child, treating a child
as though it had no feelings, inspires
dread and dislike, and fosters those very
dispositions hom which many of the
faults of childhood proceed. Mr.. +, and
Mrs. +. are of this class. Their children
are made to mind; but how Mrs. +,
frets aud scoIds her children. She is Sc
we're upon their faults. She seems to
watch them in order to find fault She
seldom gives u command without threat,
and long running, fault.hnding commen-
,ary. When she chides, it is done in G
digni6ed manner. She raises her voice,
puts on cross look, threatens, strikes
them, pinches their ears, snaps their heads
etc. The children cry, pout, suk, and
poor Mrs. L, has to do her work over
pretty often. Then she will fad fault
with her husband, because he will not fal
in with her ways, or chime with her in
| chorus.
). Ffettiag and scolding makes hypo.
critics. As a fretter never receives couh-
dence and affection, SO no one likes to tell
them anything disagrceable and thus pro-
cure for themselves tretting. Now
children conceal as much as they can from
such persons. They cannot make up their
minds to be frank and open-hearted. So
husbands conceal from their wives, and
wives from their husbands. For man
may brave lion, but he likes not to come
in contact with nettlcs and mosquitoes.
6. 1t destroys ones peace Of mind
The more one frets the more he may. \
iretter will always have enough to fret at;
especially if he or she has the bump Of
order and neatness largely Developed
Something will always be out of place.
There will always be dirt somewhere
Others will not eat right, look right, sit
right, talk right they will not do these
things SO as to please them. And fretters
are generally so selfish as to have no re-
gard for any ones com&rt but their own.
-Efchange.