The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-06-29
Piain.hearted People.

81 am plain-hearted. say just what
think, and say it right to folks faces,
too. It makes me unpopular, of course,
but everybody knows I'm honest, and
will speak the truth. I told Mrs. Lewis
just what I've told you this afternoon,
Mrs. Hammond. 0 my land! Wasn't
she mad. thought
So spake Miss Ann Markham, sharp
faced woman of forty-fve, with an air of
great self-satisfaction. Mrs. Hammond
smiled, and replied blandly, Eyes, Ann,
we all know you. You are not deceitful,
and we must talk as gracefully as we
can, whatever you choose to say"
Its according to my principles" re-
sumed Miss Markham, Il despise deceit,
and 1 believe in sparing nobody for rela-
tons sake. Whatever l think, I say"
On low couch just through the open
folding doors which led to the next room
near which they sat, lay an invalid wo-
man, listening to the conversation, but up
to this time silent. I would like to pic.
ture her to my readers as l have seen her
so often. A mere physical wreck, in
whose emaciated face the great, lumin-
Gus, dark eyes seemed to make you for
get everything else, and to understand
how the immortal soul outlives the NOR
tai body. The soft curls of hair that lay
across her wrinkled forehead land touched
the thin cheek, were streaked with many
threads of gray, and suffering had lined
and interlined the delicate face, but no
time or pain had dimmed the tender lus-
ter of her wonderful eyes or banished the
smile from her pleasant mouth. There
were force and thought stamped on the
face of this gentle, shrinking, suffering
woman.
She now made little motion with her
soft, thin hand, to attract attention, and
then said with depth and earnestness
of tone, added to the usual sweetness
that always characterized her every word
and act, Miss Markham, is it right, be-
cause you carry viper in your own
bosom, to thrust it out to wound your
neighbour"
What words were these! o my
friends who pride yourselves on being
plain-hearted, if your heart is to be laid
open to the world, may it be q we'll of
sweetness, and not of bitterness, to those
with whom you have to do. Because we
think an ill-natured thing, is it our duty,
in order to be truthful, to speak it out to
the great discomfort Of other people?
When disagreeable truth needs to be
spoken, where any good result is likely
to follow, then it is well to have courage
and decision enough to speak plainly and
earnestly in the cause of the right. But
too often, so-called plain-heartedness is
but another name for manifested lima
ture, and instead of working any good,
calls out whatever there is bad in an
others dispositicn. and often is like q
spark that sets house on fire.
When our hearts are full of love, and
charity, and good will toward all the
world, there is no danger of the mouths
speaking any words that can do harm.
But when bitterness, or envy, or jeal-
ousy, are harbored there, the less we
show of our feelings, the better for our
selves and all about us.
Let us remember, and ask ourselves
often the words of my sainted friend, "Is
is right because you carry viper in
your own bosom, to thrust it out to
wound your neighbour"