The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-05-12
/" Thank You!"

"Thank Y0ui" -
I once knew an old man who was
jogging along on the down-hill side OF
life, and he was about as dsagreeable
an old mortal rs it was ever my lot to
meet. He seemed to elbow, and push
and thrust, and shove his way through
the world, instead Of walking through
life in a straightforward, honorable
fashion. There was always frown
on his surly old brow, and timid
persons jumped when he looked
ut them. The most confident child in
the world never dared ask him to ring
a refractory door-bell, and no sane dog
would ever think for moment of
thirsting his nose into that clenched
fist. His favorite proverb was the
selfish old aphorism: Every man for
himself and the devil take the hinder
deal on what had turned Mr.. Cur
mudgeon's milk of human kind
ness into gall; finally, one day /
asked an old playmate of his, n man
who had known him since boyhood,
what the reason was. why said my
informant, promptly. "Jack Curmud-
geon never learned how to say: Thank
you. He always fairly hated to ac-
knowledge kindness, and his favorite
phrase was; No thanks to you. using
the WORT mo- as an adjective instead Of
an adverb. however. This explained
everything IN a moment. This world
of ours treats us pretty much as we
treat it; il we hit it, it surely hits back.
II we persist In humping against, and
jostling every one we meet on life's
pathway, we will be bumped and jostled
in return. But If we live and let live,
and give as well as take, this world is
not such bad place after all to live in.
In fact, we are all dependent on each
other; it is foolishly to deny this, and
ungenerous not to acknowledge it, and
the consequences are very sad for the
person who attempts such course; an
unhappy, disappointed, miserable and
friendless old age will be his portion,
and / would save every boy who reads
this article from such fate as that if
could.
What d pleasure it is to do some-
thing for grateful person. What q
task to serve one who takes all kind
ness as matter Of course. There is
another thing to think of, we must
learn to express our gratitude while we
are young, for, after we reach middle
life, even if we have the feeling In the
heart, the tongue seems to be tied on
that subject, the words come slowly
and awkwardly, and we are unable to
express ourselves. But, while it is the
height of rudeness and ingratitude to
scant ones thanks, yet it is quite pos
sible to 90 too far the other way, and
be too prodigal Of them. The greatest
charm of gratitude is in its sincerity,
and while it is, perhaps, better to over
whelm friend with acknowledgements
than never to thank him at all; yet to
thank man for giving you "a glance
at the morning paper with as much
fervor as would be appropriate II he
had saved your life takes all the beauty
away from the courtesy, and renders It
only bore. Several seasons ago an
English lady, who was staying at one
of our fashionable watering places, and
who evidently realized this fact, used
to grade her acknowledgements accorde
ing to the size Of the favor received,
thus:
"Tha-anks." s@l
Thanks much"
Thanks awfuily."
"a thousand thanks"
Thanks no end"
And d set OF saucy young Americans
who heard of it, and who were staying
at place very much less fashionable,
but infinitely more jolly, used to fire
the whole set off in one terrific volley at
each other in return for the slightest
civility. But the English lady was
right in principle, if she showed it out
in an absurd manner Thanks should
be appropriate to the occasion. But,
above all, do not use that curt, UNDER
bred word: Thanks" when you have
occasion to acknowledge favor. Say
heartily and kindly: Thank you"
The slightest civility is worth as much
as that, and it will make friends and
keep them as nothing else will. The boy
who forgets to say Thank you," is q
boy whom none will remember to try to
please. Why should theyp If he does
not appreciate favor enough to return
so easy an equivalent as simple THANH
you, SIR no one viii care to do him
favor at ALL Christian at W0rk.