Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-04-29
Finding Fault.

certainly nothing that children do. The
best actions may have flaw picked in
them, if one wishes to see only the evil.
In general, fault-finding, as Il habit, in
dicates bad state of mind in the censor,
rather than special fault in the censured.
1t may not be malignant, or even cruel
and often it is unconscious.
We have known very kind people, kind in
feeling and in action, who kept up an un
ceasing flow of fault-finding. There was
Aunt BascOmb, who pitied poor folks as
much as any one in town and was always do
ing something for them, but never failed
even in the act of comforting kindnesses, to
keep up a fusilade of fiult-finding. So
you've come again! thought you would
People never will learn to take care ofthem-
selves. | don't believe that it's necessary
for you to be atdown the heel all the time !;
and while saying this she was getting out
a loaf of bread, Il sheet of gingerbread
and little sugar and tea
Why, Aunt Bascomb, YOU know we've
been sick for months, and couldn't
%, yes. people don't need to be sick.
should be sick half the time if l didn't
take care of myself Sickness is no ex-
cuse for shiftlessness '-Golling up the
five-pound piece of salt pork) Where's
/ your basket?'
! Haven't got any
What did you come here without n
basket for? How did YOU expect to take
home anything? Here. Rachel, Rachel
L say. bring me up that cross-handled
basket. Not that one-vou minx-'ttint
large enough to hold Il thmbIeful-that
large one, Girls always are so careless.
/ you have to tear Your throat open before
/ tlpV III hp1r and than
right
+ oh, Aunt Bascomb you are very kind.'
+ No, amt neither. What do YOU say
so for? You don't deserve ANYTHING; but
so don't nobody-the Lord have mercy on
us all, poor creeturs! Too heavy? Can't
carry it? Well, that's a GOOD onet
Come here for help, and too weak to carry
1t home! Well, | expected rs much. Whv
didn't you bring Ulysses with YOU? /
knew You wouldn't, and so | had to send
for George who was working in the three
corner lot. He'll be here in Il minute.
What are you lifting it for? You know
you can carry it. Don't want to put me
to trouble? What did You come for
then: Il on knew it would be a trouble TO
be taking care of sick folks in this neigh
/ borhood. Now, don't waste this tea It's
the very best I've got. and too good for
you; and don't come for any mOrc-that
IS, TIL this Is usedup. And here's 4 bottle
OF VINE for the old man. Don't let every
o. dy be swigging at it. Take this paper
o. snuff; its a dirty habit, and | don
see how Il respectable woman as YOU
uses 1t; but ifyou will you will, that's all
and you'd better have good snuff than
poor snuff etc. SO she would 90 on dav
after day. doing endless kind things in the
most ungracious manner. Tough folks
didn't care, but very sensitive natures
were stung more by the fault-finding than
comforted by the generous gifts.
If, with kind actions, fault-tinding is so
hard to bear. how much worse when a sci
fish and cold nature INDUCES in it. Some
parents seem to think that the only way
to bring up children is to keep their faults
before their eyes. They never praise.
never encourage. They incessantlv point
out their shortcomings Servants. too.
come in foi their full share of fault-find-
ing. All their doin@s are set in order be-
fore them. In every act it is the thing
that catches the eye--blame, blame blame
Never any real commcndation.
Heads of shops, overseerS of laborers.
foremen in departments, often indulge in
tins petty tyranny, and keep all under
them IN an unhappy and unamiable tenn
per.
1t is a habit that grows on one Many
are far gone in 1t without knowing it. 1t
would surprise many person if he could
count the times of fault finding with those
OF gracious acknowledgment of service.
lhe tongue Is very great diSturber, 1t
stlngs like the mosquito, it draws blood like
Il leech 1t poisons like an asp.
So GREAT lr.
the tas of keeping it in the way of kind
ness that the inspired st. James says. II
any man among you seem to be religious
ana brldieth not his tongue this
mans religion is vain We suppose the
same Is trse of women!-Henry Hdro
Beechcr IN Ne'c York Ledger