Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-06-20
THE GOOD FELLOW.

w NpuuSt IL luz SuoN ASttoW SNSE
mistrusts his goodness, or realizes how
weak, how unprineipled, and how bad
fellow he truly is. He never regards the
consequences of his acts rs they relate to
others and especially those of his family
friends. Little fits of generosity toward
them are supposed to atone for all his
misdeeds, while he inaiots upon them the
disgraces, Inconvenience and burdens
which attend sclfshly dissouto life.
The invitation Of friend, the taunts Of
good-natured boon companions, the temp
tations of jolly fellowship, these are
enough to overcome all his sCruples, il
he has any scrupes, and to lead him to
ignore all the possible results to those
who love him best, and who must care
for him in sickness and all tho unhappy
phases of his selfish life.
The good fellow is notoriously careless
Of his family. Any outside friend can
lead him whthersoever he will--into do
bouchery, idenesS, vagabondage. lIa
can ask favor and it is done. Ho can
invite him into disgrace and no goes. He
can direct him into job of dirty work
and he straightway undertakes it. He
can tempt him into any indulgence which
may suit his vicious whims, and regard
less of wife, mother, or sister, who may
be shortened in their resources SO as 70
legitimately claim his protecting hand
regardless of honor, of father and brother
-he will spend his money, waste his time
and mako himself n subject of constant
and painful anxiety, or an unmitigated
nuisance to those alono who care straw
for him. What pay does no receive for
his painful sacrifice The honor Of being
considered a good fellow, with set Of
men who would not spend cent for him
il they should soc him starving, and who
would laugh over his calamities. When
he dies in tho ditch, as he is most likely
to die, they breathe sigh over the swill
they drink, and say, latter all, no was II
good fellow"
Tho feature Of the good fellows case
which makes it we'll nigh hopeless, is that
no thinks that his pliablc disposition, his
readiness to do other good fellows SER
vice, and his jolly ways atone for all his
faults. His love of praise is fod by his
companions, and thus his seltcompla-
cency is nursed. Quito unaware that his
good fellowship is tho result Of his weak
ness; quite unaware that his sacrifice of
honor, and the honor and peace OF his
family, for the sake OF outside praise, Is
the offspring of tho most heartless selfish
ness; quito unaware that his disregard of
the interests and feelings of those who are
I bound To- him by the closest tics OF blood
is tho demonstration Of his utterly un-
principlod character, no carries an unruf-
fled or joval front, while hearts bleed or
break around him. OF all tho scamps
society knows, the traditional good fellow
is the most despcable. A man who, for
his own selfish delights, or the sake OF
praise of careless or unprincipled friends,
make his home scene Of anxiety and
torture, and degrades and disgracos all
who are associated with him in his home
| life, is whether he knows II or not, brute.
II man cannot be loyal to his home,
and to those who love him, then he cannot
be loyal TO anything that is good. There
is something mean beyond description in
any man who cares moro for anything in
this world than the honor, confidence and
love of his family. There is something
radically wrong in such man, and the
quicker and the more thoroughly he real
! izes it, in humiliation which bends him
TO the earth in shame and confusion, the
better for him. The traditional good fol
low is a a bad fellow from the crown OF
his head to the sole OF his foot. lle is as
weak as baby, vain as a peacock, selfish
as pig, and as unprncipled as thief.
He has not one redeeming trait upon
which reasonable self respect can be
built and braced.
Give US the bad fellow, who stands by
his personal and family honor, who sticks
to his own, who does not "treat" his
friends while his home is in need of the
money he wastes, and who gives himself
no indulgence of good fellowship at the
expense Of duty. A man with whom the
approving smile Of a wife, or mother, oil
sister, does not weigh more than thous
and crazy braves OF boon companions, II
Just no man at all.-,ScribHer'S for June