Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-04-08
Finding Fault.
ny HENRY WARD BrrcHER.

There is nothing perfect in what man
docs certainly nothing that children do.
The best actions may have a flaw picked 10
them if one wishes to see only the evil.
In general, ault.fnding, as a habit, in
dicates bad state Of mind in the censor,
rather than special fault in the one cen
surcd. 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.
easy fow Of fault.fnding. There was Aunt
Bascom who pitied poor folks as much as
any one in town, and was always doing
something for them, but never failed, even
in the act Of conferring Kindness, TO keep up
a fusillade Of fault.fnding. 80 you've
come again2 thought you would. Peo-
pie never will learn to take care Of them
selves. | don't believe that it is necessary
for you to be down at the heel all the time; :"
and while saying this she was getting out a
loaf Of bread, a sheet Of gingerbread, and a
little sugar and tea.
Why, Aunt Bascom, you know we've
been sick for months and couldn't -
"Oh, yes, people don't need to be sick.
should be sick half the time if | didn't
take care Of myself Sickness is no excuse
for shiltlessness, - (rolling up fve.pound
piece Of pork "Where's your basket?'
Haven't got any
"What did you come here without bas-
ket for2 How did you expect to take home
anything Here, Rachel Rachel, say I!
bring me up that cross-handed basket. Not
that one-you MINK faint large enough to
hold a thimbleful--that large one. Girls
always are so careless; you have to tear
your throat open before they'll hear, and
then they don't hear right"
"Oh, Aunt Bascom, you are very kind -
" No, sint kind 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 creatures Too heavy ?
Can't carry it2 Well, that's a good one
Come here for help, aud too weak to carry
it home Well, expected as much. Why
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
lots. He'll be here in a minute. What are
you lifting it for? You know you can't
carry it. Don't want to put me to trouble 7
What did you come for, then You knew
it would be trouble to be taking care OF
all the poor folks in this neighborhood.
Now don't waste this tea. It's the very
best I've got, aud too good for you; and
don't come for any more that is, till this
is used up. And here's bottle Of wine for
the old man. Don't let everybody be swig-
ging at it. Take this paper of snuff; it's a
dirty habit, and don't see how a respecta-
bic woman as you uses it but if you will
you will, that's all and you'd better have
good snuff than poor snuff etc. So she
would 90 on, day 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-fndins
than comforted by her generous gifts.
If, with kind actions, fault-6nding is Sc
hard to bear how much worse when a sci
fish and cold nature INDUCES in it. Som'
parents seem to think that the only way tc
bring up children is to keep their faults be
fore their eyes. They never praise, the!
never encourage. They necessarily poin
out their shortcomings Servants, too
come in for their full share of fault-fndiDg
All their misdoings are set in order befor
them. 10 every acti is the thing that is i'm
perfect that catches the eye--blame, blame
blame! Never any real commentator.
Heads Of shops, oyerseers of laborers
foremen in departments, often indulge il
this petty tyranny, and keep all under then
in an unhappy and unamiable temper.
1 is a habit that grows on one. Man,
are far gone IN it without knowing it. l
would surprise many person if he coul
count the times of fault.fnding with thos
of gracious acknowledgement of service
This tongue is great disturber 1t sting
like the mosquito, it draws blood like
leech, it poisons like an asp.
SO great are its evils, and so difficult
the task Of keeping it in the way Of kline
ness that the inspired St. James says; 81
any man among you seem to be religion
and bridleth not his tougae this man
religion is yaiu.' We suppose the same
true Of woman !-Ne,o York Ledger.