The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-05-16

We are too ready to infer evil or unworthy
motives in the conduct of others, especially
when our wishes are crossed by it. We do
not resolve to ''think no evil and believe
the best of every person; or, if there is an
appearance Of anything really blameworthy,
to seek q charitable explanation" to think
on, and think out the probable other side Of
the case" AS in furnishing our house, we
select only what is useful or attractive, pass
ing by what we do not like, why not seek
for our hearts and memories the pleasing
traits in each character we meet, knowing
there is good in everything, /" if we would on
ly see it." Such course would certainly
make us happier. Is it not pleasanter to
be able to love our fellows than to be annoy
ed by their faults, unrelieved by the realiza-
ton of counter balancing virtues. Rev.
Porter says: Strive to learn the hard les.
son of admiring, rather than criticising.' We
are panied at our want of success in avoid
ing conduct that our better judgment has
repeatedly condemned. Theu let us feel
for our struggling, perhaps discouraged
brothers, and seek to aid them in removing
their stumbling blocks, rather than despise
them for their frailty. We say of an erring
one He does not try. How do we know ?
Perhaps he does not seem to improve. But
don't we sometimes seem almost at q stand
still, needing every effort to maintain our
present position to keep from backsliding
We do not know what he might be if he did
not sstry." Abernethy says: " No one, judg'
ing from his own feelings and powers, can
be aware Of the kind or degree of temptation
or terror, or the seeming incapacity to resist
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Weakness or deformity in character should
excite our kindliest feelings as readily as
Affections to the body. If % neighbor has a
sore, tender arm, we are very careful not to
rub against it. But why are we less thought
full, oonsiderate, when we know his mind to
be just as sore and easily irriiated Is not
mental suffering even more wearing than
physical? Even if the offender seems in
sensible of his faults, yet he is injured more
than those he sins against. For he thereby
lessons the esteem of those around him; and
does not this affect our happiness, as much
as any one thing, after the approval Of our
conscience Rev. Arthur Swazey writes ::
/" In good soul there is determined fight,
and sometimes the unlovely manifestations
you see in your friends, your children, it
may be are only the smoke of the battles
So clear is this to me, that l would not so
much as reprove indeed would not see, if
l could help it, child's error, when am
sure that child knows it and is honestly bent
on well doing" Too frequent reproofs, or
notice of failures, and NO notice of little sue
cesses or improvements, are discouraging, and
take away the stimulating hope Of overcom-
ing fault before ii is seen. Acting as if we
thought him always in fault, we lnjure his
self-respect, so necessary to the well-being
of many characters. read of a little three
year-old, usually very good, who seemed
quite transformed, when after sudden freak
of temper, in which she did something very
wrong, her mother hastily said, "You
naughty girl, mamma does not love you
when you do so.' Her self.respect, the
once powerful motive for good behavior, was
lost, and for two days she seemed utterly
disObedie Mt, always saying. 81 not care,
not want to be good or, g not good girl
mamma not love me" The mother very
tenderly explained that she loved her just
the same, however naughty she might be,
compelling her to punish. $50 at last I Won
my rebel, She clang to me convulsively and
kept asking, in soft, delighted voice, such
questions as, g If l strike, do 90 love me
just the same p At last he was fully reas
sured and herself again. This child wat
perhaps unusually sensitive but no one vii
deny that the loving or unloving spirit anG
manner of a reproof make a great difference
It is better to restrain our own irritable in.
cilnations until sober second thought shows
what is needed The question should not bt
Is punishment deserved But will i
benefit the offender like an nnpalatabe bu
efficacious medicine or, Is it needed as
warning to others The power to punish il
not given for its direct result to the injured
as return or satisfaction for evil received
+" Vengeance is mine. saith the Lord, il
small things as we'll as in great II. II.