Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-03-15
SensibiIity.
Written for the Arm.

Written for the Argus.
Virtuous sensibility powerfully
influences the proper discharge Of
all the relative and social duties Of
life. Without some discharge of
these duties, there could be no
comfort or security in human
society. Men would become
hordes Of savages perpetually har-
RAISING one another. In one way
or other the great duties of social
life must be performed. There
must be among mankind some re-
ciprocal cooperative aid. In this
all consent. But let US observe
that these duties may be performed
merely from decency and regard 10
character; sometimes from fear
and even from selfishness which
obliges men to show kindness in
order that they may receive re-
ceive returns of it. In such cases
the exterior of fair behavior NAV
he preserved. But all will admit
that when from constraint only the
Offices of seeming kindness are per-
formed, little dependence can be
placed on them, and little value al
lowed to them.
BY others, these Offices are dis
charged solely from q principle of
duty. They are men of cold afTec-
tions, and perhaps Of an interested
character. But overawed by o
sense Of religion, and convinced
that they are bound to be beneficent,
they fulfil the course of relative
duties with regular tenor. Such
men act from a conscience and
principle. So far they do well, and
are worthy Of praise. They as
sist their friends; they give to the
poor; they do justice to all. But
what a different complexion is
given to the same actions; how
much higher flavor do they acquire
when they flow from the sensibility
Of bleeding heart. If one be not
by affection, even suppos-
ing him influenced by principle, he
will go not farther than strict prin-
ciple appears to require. 1t will
advance slowly and reluctantly.
AS it is justice, not generosity,
which impels him, he will often
feel as task what he is required
by conscience to perform. Where
as, to him who is prompted by vir-
tuous sensibility, every Office Of
benefence and humanity is pleas
ure. He gives, assists, and relieves;
not merely because he is bound to
do so, but because it would be
painful for him to refrain. Hence
the smallest benefit he confers rises
in its value, on account of its carry
ing the affection of the giver i'm
pressed on the gift. 1t speaks his
heart, and the discovery of the
heart is very frequently of greater
consequence than all that liberality
can bestow. How often will the
affectionate smile of appreciation
gladden. the humble and raise the
iejectedi How often will the look
Of tender sympathy, or the tear
that involuntarily falls, iinpart con-
to the unhappy BY this
means of correspondence Of hearts
MI the great duties which we owe
to one another are both performed
10 moro advantage, and endeared
in the performance. From true
flow n thousand good
offices, apparently small in them
selves, but of high importance to
the felicity Of others; offices which
altogether escape tho notice of tho
cold and unfeeling, who by the
hardness of their manner render
unamiable, even when
hey mean to do good. How happy,
then, would it be for mankind if
this sffectionate disposition pre-
vailed more generally in the worldl
How much would the sum of pub
ic virtue and public felicity be in
creased if men were always inclin-
ID to "rejoice with them that re-
joice, and weep with them that
weep"
S. S. M.