Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-07-17


No people are more to be pitied. and nom
are more harshly Judged, than those who t,
natural impulsiyeness and limited means,
good heart, and that kind of instructive un
Selfshness which never takes count of tn,
difficulties or disagreeables standing in the
way OF KIND actiOns-zcal for others dwarf
ing consideration for themselves, and imag-
nation going the same way. In their
honest desire to help where help is needed
they are always offering more than they can
give, and undertaking more than they can
make good. Being people of lively imagina-
ton, they sink the details in the result. and
overlook the obstacles standing between
them and the fulflment of their generous
desires. They fancy they can clear noun
tain at leap, and ford a sea as if it were a
mill-pond; but when they come to measure
the height OF those inaccessible-looking crags.
when they see how the waves are breaking
against their irail boat, they then have to
throw back and say that thing is beyond
them. On which they are accused of half
heartedness, unreiiability, unfriendlines,
they are turneOats and deSerters men of
words and not of deels-whereof the latest
stage Is sudden death. and death indeed -
The offer, which Wa, to give one few hours
pleasure at the cost of days Of damage and
weeks OF pinching or pressure to the other,
Is withdrawn-yituperation, the loss of tae
warnest strain of friendship, and the casting
OF scornful proverbs notwithstanding. And
IN general the withdrawal i the right
thing.
1t is impossible ior some people to see or
hear OF distress in any form without longing
to relieve it. And from longing To Offering
1t Is only the pI>-ageoi breath. Is a friend
Ill? Let me sit up with him Tonight"
Willingly. Your sitting up tonight will
give case and a good ~pellof rest to the tired
watchers, and save the substitute standing
reluctantly in the gap. Let Us state, how
ever, that the substitute Is >toutand sturdy
well-conditionei person whO has the strength
of a man and can bear any amount Of fatigue
without failing, ami maybe person Of
leisure, with nothing ON earth to do but
amuse herself and bury her hours with A.
much enjoyment and cnnui aS are eompati-
be with propriety. Il Size watches through
the night She can sleep through the day. and
by SIX o clock next evening viii be a- blithe
a. bird and as fresh a. "a daisy iou on
the contrary, are a trail iatisaed little
woman,witha large family and the affection
Of neuralgia. Every hour Of your day Is oc-
cupied with work that can never be Ielesat-
ell nor laid aside N0u have vOur lessons u
give, your article To write. your part to
study, even your pudling- t9make and your
chi.dren'- mouths To feed generally But
You are a warlu-hearteI, impul>ivc little |
woman. Worn 0ut atom a. you are. and You !
offer great things out Of your great soul, |
which when searched for are not u be found |
within the compass OF your small body. |
Your husband. who i not impul>iye. and /
who's, idea Of masculine duty includes taking |
care Of You, even against Your viii, laughs |
you ana your Quix0tic offer to -cJrn when
he hears Of Il. lie viii have none Of this |
folly, he says trenchanrly you have enough |
70 do with your own affairs. and he will not |
suffer You t. add your neiEhbor's load To
your own. Forthwith your sick friends
household j. informed taat you are 4 de
iaulte-, and that the Wel.-clE-t.tlted sub /
stltate must take your place that you can
not receive tie children that y1u cannot |
DO this or 10 thar as you lad oiered-when
y0a once come 10 consider it YOUR strength
was not sufficient, and Your husband would
not allow it. From tiat hou9 You have lost
your standing among them. ami are ranked
with those Who make grand professions.
then throw over the wrctchcl dUVe> who
trust 10 them, and "a, the eleventh hour
back OUT ot the agreement.
Nothing can BE more untrue way Of put
TIM Il. Nou neither offered for your brag
nor drew hack for Sciti> ne~-. The first
was honest sympathy. and tie second in
ft-r'r ]