Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-25
Good Temper.

PernapS there Is no quallly lnore ueSira-
Bile in man or woman than the homely
one of good temper. 1t has a greater
charm Than beauty, more lasting fasci-
nation than wit. and higher grace than
the most brilliant accomplishing mt. 1t is
the happiness of some people to be born
with it, and their natural amiablity shines
out even in childhood, as contrasted with
the captious, petulant and fretful spirit of
their little mates but, like other excellent
gifts. it may be cultivated, and the posses
sion of an acquired good temper deserves
more credit than he. to whom it came with
his blood.
Temper is sometimes confounded with
temperament, and the two words are not
So distinct that their relations are remote !;
vet, temperament refers rather to the
fabric an 10 the finish. The blade may
be of fine STEEL and still have II blunt, or
Jagged, or uncertain edge. Ii the steel be
line, it is capable Of receiving polish and
retaining, when ground IL keenness and
sharpness of which coarse and plebeian
meal would not be susceptible. The per-
SON of phle9natc temperament, through
whose veins the red tide flows sluggishly,
who is not sensitive to impressions from
without, and who takes most things pas
sively, so long us they do not affect his
physical comfort, may easily be thought
to have good temper. 1t may be quite
the opposite Such u man, having once
obtained The idea that he has been injured,
shall prove himself an implacable Zoe, and
against his unreason the waves OF your
argument and explanation will beat in
vain. Such IL woman, dull-brained, slow
wilted and ordinarily placid, when anger
Ell, is not to be won by gcnllest solcitude
or tenderest c..res-es. The bad temper,
underlying the apparently tranquil tenn
permanent, asserts itself with persistence
and force. A quick, mercural tempera-
ment, swiftly emotional and subject tc
sudden changes, forms rs good iounda-
tion on which TO build temper, fit to
stand life's wear and tear, rs any which
may he named. The responsive lmagina
ton, the electric nervous sensibility, ant
the strong affections which 90 with snch Il
temperament, insure good temper ut last
if in the early days there be judiciou:
training, and if in mature years there
come the influence of Christian principle
for neither vanity. nor arrogance. no
meanness, nor scrvility. nor seltishness
can have any predominant place in /
character which good temper controls
The disposition which is always lookin!
out for, and therefore finding, sights, the
tendencies which are ever seeking thei
own, and not their neighbors, veal. ant
the unfortunate memory which brood'
over and magnitied fances injuries,are al
alive TO the good-tempered being in whom
family and friends delight.
Strange to say, however, in many house
) holds it is not the good and gentle temper
ed who rule; it is the cross, sury and fret
full, and who have their own way because
it requires so much courage to oppos
them. Sister Ethel does less for the com
t fort of the home than anybody under it
roof, but her tongue is terror, and so sh
, is Welded to and deferred to by parent
and brothers and sisters. Her whims ar
submitted to with rare patience, and she
S given the first choice, the best room. tn
plcnsantest seat mt the table and the cosie'
corner at the fireside Outsiders stud
the problem in vain, for the petted an
spoiled girl, with everything done for he
qualification. can be winsome when sh
r wishes, but were they to summer an
\ winter in the house, they would discovt
that it was an open secret ChJtsttd
Intetigencer.