The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-08-22

gradually diminishes as the reaction
grows more and more remote.
What is called affection is in reality,
nothirg but habitual sympathy. Our
concern in the happiness or the misery
of those who are the objects of our af-
fections: our desire to promote the one,
and prevent the other is eitherth the actual
feeling Of that habitual sympathy or the
necessary consequence of it. Relations
being usually placed in situations which
naturally create this habitual sympathy
it is expected that a suitable degree o!
affection should take place among them.
We generally find that it actually does
take place, we therefore naturally expect
that it should; and we are, upon that
account, more shocked when we find
.hat it does not. The general rule is
established thai persons related to one
another in a certain degree, ought al
ways to he affected toward one another
| in a certain manner; and that there is
always the highest improPriety, and
sometimes even a sort Of impiety, in
| their being affected in a different man.
ner A parent without parental tender
ness, a child devoid Of all filial reverence
| appear monsters, the objects not of our
hatred only, but of our horror.
Though, in a particular instance, the
circumstances which usually produce
these natural affections, may, by some
accident, not have taken place, yet re-
spect for the general rule will, frequent
! ly i'll some measure, supply their place,
and produce something which, though
not altogether the same, may bear how
ever, a considerable resemblance to those
affections. A father is apt to be less at
tracted to a child, who, by some means
has been separated from him in infancy.
md does not return to him till he has
| grown up to manhood. The father is
apt to feel less paternal tenderness for
the child, in such case; and the child
less filial reverence for the father.
Brothers and sisters, when they have
been educated in distant countries, are
apt to feel similar diminutiOn OF atiec-
ton. With the dutiful and the virtu-
Gus, however, respect for the general
rule will frequently produce something
which, though by no means the same
vet very much resembles those natural
affections. Even during the separation,
the parent and the child, the brothers,
or the sisters, are by no means inditfer'
ent to one another. They consider one
another as persons to and from whom
certain affections are due, and they live
in the hope of being sometime in stu
alton to enjoy that friendship which
: ought naturally to exist among persons
so nearly connected. Till they meet
: the absent son, the absent brother, are
; frequently the favorite son, the favorlt'
brother They have never offended, or
if they have, it is so long ago that th'
offense is forgotten, as some childish
trick, not worth remembering. Every
account they have heard of one another
: if conveyed by people of any tolerabi
{ good nature, has been in the highest de
t gree fattering and favorable. III
absent son, the absent brother are no
!. like other ordinary sons ard brothers
but perfect son, perfect brother; an
the most romantic hopes are entertalne'
Of the happiness to be enjoyed in tn
friendship and conversation OF such pei
f sons. And when they meet it is oftel
T with so strong disposition to concelv
that habitual sympathy which const
g tutes the family affection, that they al
- ant to fancy they have actually COZ
e ce;yed it, and to behave 10 one anothe
Is ss if they had. Time and experience
y however. it is be feared, too frequentl
d undeceive them, upon a more I
miIiar acquaintance they frequent
discover in one another's habits, humol
and inclinations different from wh'
a they expected, to which, from want {
le habitual sympathy, from want OF u
b real principle and foundation OF what
3 n-onerlv called the family affection, the
10 c.n not now easily accommodate ther
i. selres ,rhey have never hrss,iIn Il
n. s,t,Iatitns \ ficn ainiost necessarily fore
nd that easy accommodation; and thoul
" they NAV now be sincerely desirous
Y: assume it, they have really become
be eapable of doing 50. Their familiar co
,r- yersation and intercourse soon pecon
a less pleasing to them and, upon that
in count less frequent. They may co
ph tipue to live with one another IN t
ad- mutpal exchange of essential good o
ca ces and with each other external
ow resvance of decent regard. But Il
the cordial sat;sfaction. that delicious sy
e's nathv that confidential OPenness q
ere ease which naturally take place N
ont .onversstion Of those who have li'
ter long and familiarly With one anoth
rhe !, @ ssldom happens that they can G
ice pletely enjoy. a.;
,;ce a,a - rirtpous that the general :
ans - M even this slender authority. y
The tie dis.ipated, the pEoaigats ana s
sea- vs;n i e entirely disregarded. =
to .vs q far from respecting II that :
alv -.,aar, t,ll. ef It but with the most (,
sea.ao... ,... .-;s;... -. and an early Ana
e o. ossns s.s.s,1s. q ei;s kind never tails 20