The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-08-19
She Thinks People Dislike Her.

Probably more unhappiness is caused
in the world by the anxiety of men and
women regarding what other people
may think of them, than by the blows
of really adverse ortune Everybody,
Of course, loves appreciation, and works
for it to 81 greater or less extent. Ma
terial gain may be the most powerful
incentive, but the hope of the imma-
terial reward of recognition or praise is
a stimulus of which humanity feels the
imperative need. Applause is not only
grateful to vanity of the actor on the
stage; it also gives him courage and
strength to push on to his highest eff
forts.
But their love of appreciation makes
very many people actually miserable
amid circumstances which should pro-
duce happiness. Instead of accepting
and enjoying such evidences of friend
ship toward them as they can discover,
and which may be all they really de-
serve Or ought to expect, they torture
themselves with suspicious that behind
their backs their actions and character
ters are sharply criticised. Perhaps
they understand their own weak points
SO we'll that they are in terror lest they
should be discovered by other people.
A teacher at the South, who writes
to us for advice regarding her case, is
one of the individuals who make them
selves wretched in this way. She has
grown morbidly sensitive about what
people think of her, and imagines that
she lives in a cloud ofaspersion. Every
body looks askance at her according
to her notion, and instead of friendship
she wins only GOODNESS and suspicion.
Even the good and pious turn from her;
and yet she is blameless and beyond
reproach. At least that is her opinion
Of herself as expressed in the following
letter:
"S1R: I come to YOU with sad heart for coun-
sci. have been teaching music in Georgia for
the past year and am home now Il months vaca
tion and waverng az to whether I shall return to
finish an uneXplred term. ow ng to ISLANDERS g
ainst my character by the lady with whom I Il We
been boarding. She stands high and has the con-
fdence of the entire community. She is a men,
Der of the church, and much noted for her char
tiles in ministering to sick and dying-admirable
traits in themselves and yet tending to blacken
my character:
IT was told by good Christian lady to confde
in her (my landlady) and she would be a mother
to me. This did for q short time, until learn
II have been raised in affiuence, but my
father has had reverses in business and is getting
old, thought would relieve him of the burden
Of caring for me- until he recovered from the pres
sure that was upon him, at least. She has said
she is convinced there is something wrong in nv
family or I wouldn't be out teaching. wrote
my mother, and she advised me to go on in the
even tenor of my way do my duty, put my trust
in God, and pay no attention to her talk. But
can see from the GOODNESS and reserve with which
am treated that it has prejudiced the people
is an honorable and heightened gentleman. My
home is only couple of hundred miles on the
railroad, and they might, if they would, take the
trouble to find out that my character and that of
my family is without blemish.
1t has been suggested to me that perhaps she
is jealous; but can't think so. She is young
and good looking, and her husband seems devoted
to her, and she has young lady boarders whom I
regard as better looking and more attractive than