Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-01-13
Family Quarrels.

MANY reasons may be assigned for the
frequency OF contention among relatives;
but why should they be so fierce and in
veterate? for fierce and 1nveterate they
are. This is the very point and pink of
the proverb. To capture a strong city, to
break the bars of castle, these, Solomon
says, are feats Of easier performance than
the reconciliation of offended brothers.
Most observers of human nature seem to
agree in this, that the worst quarreis, the
most desperate in their malignitv and the
most difficult to compose, are such as
break out between persons nearly related,
whether the relationship be political, &C.
clesiastical, social, mercantile Qor " two
of trade can seldom agree''), or domes-
tic. Perhaps it may be said in explana
tion of this admitted fact, that in most
cases Of ofense there is some measure Of
injustice or unkindness, intentional or IN
Intentional; and, naturally enough, it is
harder to bear injustice and unkindness
on the part Of those with whom we are
closely associated than on the part of
others. In language very true to human
nature the Psalmist says: cit was not
an enemy that reproached me: then |
could have borne it; neither was it he that
hated me that did magnify himself against
me: then l could have hid myself from
him; but it was thou, man, mine equal,
my guide, mine acquaintance. We took
sweet counsel together, and walked unto
the house Of God in company" Of
course the unfaithfulness and unkindness
of relatives and friends are felt more than
the unfaithfulness and unkindness OF
others. 1t is bad enough to have a DISC
bedient and thankless servant; far worse
to have a disobedient and thankless child
Since such contentious as those referred
to in this proverb are so common, and are
sources of so much misery, it behooves us
to guard we'll against everything calcu-
lated to produce them. Those of us, for
instance, who are parents, should beware
of manifesting any strong partialities and
preferences in the treatment of our chill
dren. Remember what that coat of many
colors cost not only Joseph, who wore it,
but also his father, who gave it, and his
broth ers, who envied it; and, if ia
theirs do we'll to remember that fact,
let mothers remember the misery
that Rebecca brought upon her sons, her
husband and herself by Partially. Again,
let none of us give way to the foolish and
mischievous habit of thinking that our
relatives ought to do so very much for US.
Your brother is a man who has his own
interests to look after; who perhaps has a
family of his own to care for and provide
for; therefore, you are not always to look
to him for assistance if you need it. You
are not, for example, to expect him to
lend you money without your giving him
all the security and the interest that you
would have to give another lender. Bust
ness is business, and whether between
strangers or relations ought to be conduct
ed on business principles; and the OBJ
servance of this rule would prevent many
bitter offense and contention. Again,
the apostle says: Honor all men,
which means that all, brothers included,
are to be treated with the respect due to
men; but there is familiarity which, even
between brothers, it is we'll to avoid.
When friends and families are so intimate
as TO be continually in each others So
ciety there is no small danger of rupt-
ure. Withdraw thy foot from thy
neighbor's house lest he be weary Of thee,
and so hate thee" Friends are like f1d-
dle-strings, and ought not to be drawn too
tight" prevention is better than cure;''
and many of these offenses and conten-
tons between brethren may be prevented
Where they exist it is hard to suggest a
remedy. In such cases the interposition
of friends is often resented as an imperti-
nent interference with private affairs, and,
indeed, a sensible man would do almost
anything, short of downright wickedness,
rather than NEEDLE with such disputes;
for ''he that passeth by and meddleth
with strife not belonging to him is like
one that taketh dog by the ears"
Never scald your lips in other folks
broth" It is easy enough to find the man
or men who will arbitrate upon dispute
in a business, the disputants not being
akin; but we all shrink from the hard and
generally unsuccessful and thankless task
Of medlating in family quarrels.-Our
Oaon F'5resGde.
A Practical Arctic Discovery.