The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-02-15
Pleasant Right.DOlng.

The emphasis that is justly laid upon
Belf-denial as IN important element In
right-doing sometimes leads us to under
rate all actions that do not include 1t.
The palpablc exhibitions OF selfish injus-
tice that casts all self.denial to the winds
and seeks only personal and present
qualifications are 30 repulsive to the Just
and generous that they are apt to divide
all actions roughly into two classes-the
one self-plcasing and wrong, the other
self.dcDying and right.
Such classification, however, is not
merely rough, it is absolutely erroneous.
The value Of self -denial does not reside
in itself as M end, but only as a means
TO higher state in which 1t is no longer
needed. For example, n greedy child
needs careful training in habits rcquir-
ing COM tant self denial-but years pass,
the habit Of restraint is acquired, reason
dominates, and in maturity he no longer
finds the need of selfdenial in this dircc-
ton, Tor more intelligent self-love pre-
iers the possession Of health to the ill.,
diligence of the palate. The right-doing
that was once 80 painful has become
pleasant. SO the child who seliishly
snatchcs the property OF his playmate
violently away, presently learns by
teaching and experience the far higher
enjoyment Of justice and sympathy, and
when Inc is Il man il costs him no pain To
refrain from snatching his neighbours
purse, although his desire for money may
be even stronger than his childish desire
for the coveted plaything.
SO, in every case, .self-denial is like q
road which must be travelled to reach
some desired end, but which we gladly
leave behind us when the goal is reached.
1t is when right-doing no longer costs q
pang that it arrives at its best condition.
Moral progress is not simply the work,
ing up TO self-dcnying condition OF
mind, it is also working through self
denial to pleasurable well doing. While
therefore, il is needful to insist on self
denial whenever right action demands
it, it is by no means just to limit our ap
! proyal to those actions alone.
There is indeed n very large proper
ton of good and noble deeds that contain
no element Of self-denlal; they are per
formed with pleasure and avidity; there
is no painful sense Of obligation, NJ
struggle, no collision Of motives. TIL,
parent who truly and inteligently love-
his children does not pause to considc
his own case when their necessities de
mand his excrtion; there is no contcs
in his mind between his duty to then
and his own happiness, for the two arr
consonant; his heart springs to plaI
and labor for their good, and in doinf
this he hest pleases himself. The here
who claims our admiration by leapinl
into the fire or the water unhesitatingl,
to save nnother's life has not been com
PEELED or driven to the net by sense o
duty, at war with, and finally oyercom
ing his desire Of safety. 1t is, on TIN
contrary, his quick aud ready sympath,
springing to action without consciou
self.denial which commands the homag
of every looker.on.
Not in extraordinary cases alone, bu
in the everyday affairs of life, much q
the right-doing il pleasant. 1t is nc
self-denial that makes the lover of jus
tice upright and honorable in all hi
dealings /; he could not descend to mean
ness or unfairncss in his business, O
Mke advantage of poverty or ignoranc
IN enrich himself without persona
sense Of degradation fur more painful t
bear than any pecuniary loss. So tn
generous and sympathetic man bestow
his time, thought or money upon thos
who need it, with pleasure to himself
no. with pain. The patriotic Statesman
! IN securing the welfare of his country
fulfilling his own earnest desire. Tn
striver after excellence in any occcupa
ton, while bcneiiting tho world, is n
the same time ministering to his ow
happiness. And tho best work in an
department is that which has been
source Of pleasure TO the performer. -
Phiiadeiphia Public Lcdgcr.