The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-10-09
EOrkeAranCe.

A family is usually made up of per-
sons of divergent qualities and tastes
The children Of family are not alik9
in temperament, inclination or habibs
The mild and amiabie and stron szwiled
and quarrelsome are found in the same
circle. Some have quiet and others
boisterous tastes. Some are industrious,
others INDECENT. Naturally there will
be great diversities of inclination and
aim, and cross-purposes will reveal as
much in one direction as another. 1t is
because of this that the lesson of for
bearance needs to be carefully taught.
A family so loving that faults are over
looked and disagreeable features for
borne is, all else being lual, model
family. There are few such, chiefly be-
cause forbearance of faults is not often
definitely taught. In most cases where
it exists it is natural. But natural or
| acquired, it is valuable quality. 1t
rests, in any event, on right basis.
What are termed faults are not as Of
ten the outgrowth of inherent depravity
| of purpose as of accidental influences,
often pardonable, Irritability, for ex-
| ample, may be the result of form OF
disease, the flow or congestion of blood
to the brain. Children pressed with
study at school and nervously impaired
are irritable, often not from inherent
badness, but from causes such as are
above cited. They feel badly and know
not why. Such should be treated, not
as culprits, but as sufferers. So there
are many reasons for the little disagrGe-
ments of life, not all bad, and which
would be partially smoothed away by a
little kind forbearance All that may
be called faults are not such; they are
rather the result of surrounding circum-
stances and need only gentle treatment
to melt away.
The habit of forbearance has also its
disciplinary side. Nothing is more easy
than TO be hypocritical. We can easily
find fault. 1t is often natural, or can
be made second nature to attach harsh
suggestions to any act. We can easily
eavil at motives. And unrestrained,
we are apt to do so. Severe and even
unjust judgments are far more common
than kindly, we'll balanced judgments.
The Christ thought it necessary to allude
to this. Judge not, that We be not
judged" And the tendency to harsh
criticism is such that not to exercise it in
wolves restraint. Many fail to exert this
selfcontrol Yeti is Invaluable 1t is not
only good in leading to that forbearance
of criticism which secures good will,
but it tends to that evenness of Judgment
that is of great value in life
Can this habit be inculcated? Why
not? The lessons we impart all along
childhood embody the same principle
Forbearance of faults is only an element
of self-control. If we can teach children
to be truthful, honest, cheerfully ODE.
dent, or anything else; if we can teach
them the lessons in books we can teach
this. 1t involves merely the same ele-
mentS that enter into oil else we learn in
life. The child who can command in
tellect and compel it to study, or will
andrequire it to obey, can also COM
mand Judgment, and see that it shall
equitably and even charitably perform
its functions. 1t only needs TO be shown
how. And the parent who does not
study that he may impart the lesson falls
short of duty. The most beautiful and
love-inviting of all the graces of fife are
those which forbear to critieise harshly
others faults. PHILADELPHIA CdI..