Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-10-27
elf.Forgetfnlness.

Most Of MS who find ourselves IN the habit
Of complaining OF this world rs a dreary
abode a dark pilgrimage. u sad place OF
graves would find it a very different thing
II, for any portion Of the time while we are
in it, We could but forget ourselves.
Forget ourselves That Is. 10 remember
other people till their trials, il they do not
crowd out our personal trials, occupy equal
place with them, till their identity looms up
aud corresponds with our own; or simply
and in better words, 10 love our neighbors as
ourselves.
II is not to be supposed that in phase
of existence where good is still to be wrought
out Of evil on its upward way, and where so
many various elements are still clashing
that any individual condition can be per.
fectly aud permanently happy
It being conceded, then. that every lot Ia
life has its bitterness, while laughter shall
be mingled with sorrow, aud mourning take
hold Of the end Of Joy" that corroding cares
shall beset the possession Of our best earthly
treasures, II becomes self-eyident truth
that the chief relief from that lot is To cease
10 consider it, AS a moth does 10y gar.
meut. and worm 10y the wood, so the sad.
ness OF man consumeth the heart" says the
old Latin Nulgate and We can forget our
own sadness best by grieying over the sad.
ness Of another by rejoicing over auother's
Joy In the one case we shall fnd that ours
is not an isolated instance. but that each
soul bends beneath the weight of its own
especial cross, and that light as such cross
seems to us ia comparison with our own,
yet if We took the temperament aud itua.
ton OF its bearer with it, we should find il
Just as glieyous. This-the know ledge OF
all this--is perhaps but bitter consolation
for ones own grief. Yet, nevertheless, it
hinders one from supposing any particular
nalevoleuee on the part Of the powers of the
universe directed at ones self, and affords
one, as we have said the opportunity
bringing amusement 10 these others, relief
oblivion for the moment--of forgetting ones
self and ones own burden.
Aud in the other case-that of rejoicing
in the joy of the fortunate possessor of that
blessing-the very exertion OF casting aside
envy, of refusing to listen to the evil sug.
gestion concerning injustice, brings back a
shadow of that joy on us n ray of happy
satisfaction, it may be also and gives us
certainly pleasant and heart-warming sensa
tions that we should not otherwise have
known. For whether We are glad on oui
own account, or on another's, gladness is glad
ness, and it raises the barometer of the SOU
to the mark of fair weather there while SC
long as we have felt that throb Of sympathy
have identified ourselves with that Other
joyous soul, so long at any rate, we have
known self-forgetfulness, and have mastered
happiness. There is one light of the stars
and another of the moon, but il is all light
whether il be direct or reflected.
And even il We desire tho boon of self
forgetfulness for no special grief or outrage
for no worse trouble than a wtll-grown dis
gust of ourselves, a sense of fatigue with
our own personality, there is no other way
to get it than to 60 into the personality Of
others. The anohorte has practiced thi.
truth in desert caves, ceasing the remem
brance OF his UNIV orthiness in the contem
platon of beings and states beyond this
mortal sphere the dweller in cities seeks
the crowd to lose himself there. That is a
very vain and very shallow nature which is
so satisfied with itself as to need no change
of view for 30 imperfect are we yet, that
the only permanent happiness to be acquired
the only tranquility OF soul, must come
through this thony path of self-forgetful
ss.-Hdrpers Basar.