The Osceola times., 1881-10-08
Sclfisl, Persons.

The very first thing necessary to
make any person miserable and un-
happy in this world, is to be supreme
ly selfish. How many persons we
daily meet, who, il we are to Judge
by actions and expressions, seem
wholly bent upon making themselves
unhappy. They think all the time of
themselves or Of how they can pro-
mote their own selfish ends; they
don't care about any body else; have
no feelings for ANYBODY but them
selves. They never think Of enjoy
ing the satisfaction of seeing Others
happy, but would seem rather to
contribute their full posers toward
making Others ne well as themselves
unhappy. lfthcy see "A smiling face,
ii is to them ike Il cloud passing
over a bright sun, They envy eve
ry one who is better off in any re-
spect than themselves; think unkind,
" toward them, and very likely
speak lightly Of them. Such per
sons are constantly afraid some one
will encroach upon their rights, and
having trained their minds to regard
everybody with suspicion, they are
ready to snap and snarl without
cause, or at least make use of very
unkind ex pressions. They will con
tend for everything or anything that
they think may rebound to their in
tercsts, though not worth pin, much
less to spend breath in c6n,ending
for. Some persons are undoubtedly
naturally sensitive, but the greater
number make themselves so. Such
persons are 10 be blamed for allow
ing their feelings to control their ac-
tions, especial y in company. No one
should be so sensitive as to take eve
rything said in playfulncss in the
most serious manner. We should
all have the sense TO discriminate be-
tween what is said in earnest and IL
Jest, and always try to Judge from
the character Of the individual be-
tween ri ght and wrong intentions,
and, above all, to never be in hur-
nv in deciding and expressing con
victions whether another has done
right or wrong. What may seem to
be a wrong action, may be induced
by the noblcst of motives and best
intentions, while an action that might
seem commcndable, nigh; have for
its object the vilest and most repre-,
hensible motives.
Another class Of persons who seem
to be always trying to make them
selves unhappy, is the suspicious per-
son--such as are always suspecting
everybody around them as guilty of
some mean act, or fearing they will
be slighted, and are constantly watch
ing for something to Indicate that
others dislike them-it is a pity such
persons can not be made to realize
that they are worthy of hate, unless
they learn TO be less selfish in their
feelings. The world is full of peo-
pie who daily seem to exert their
powers to make themselve and others
unhappy, This life of ours is com
paratively short, and while we re-
main here, why should we not use
the powers God has given us, to make
ourselves and others happy-always
having in view the best interests of
our fellow-creatures, aud our happi-
ness here and in the world to come.
How much better it would be, and
how much the cares and difficulties
of this life would be lightened, if all
had this object in view We should
aim by the use OF all the little cour-
tesies and amenities of life, to rem
der ourselves and Others happy. We
should not express the belief that
our neighbor is villain and is
watching for chance to wrong us,
till we know it to be a fact always
remember the law adagc that "a
person should be considered inno-
cent till proved guilty" 1t takes
the greater portion Of a lifetime to
build up character--it may be de
stroyed by the unthinking ina single
hour. Deal justly, honestly, aud
fairly by all mankind, and we will
have our reward, both here and here
after.