The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-21
For the Farmer and Mechanic.
A Street Collision.
BY REV. DIR. CHARLES F. DEEMS.

| As we were walking The street one day.
man in very great haste ran against us
very rudely, and we insthctively begged
his pardon. The excited traveller was in
too great haste TO grant forgiveness yer
bally, whatever may have been his mental
state.
When 1t was over and We had gathered
up our thoughts we began to analyze our
feelings. Ought not that man to have
begged our pardon? That would depend
upon the settlement of the question as 10
who was the offender. In appearance
We were harmless The injurer was the
larger man, who was rushing along a
popular thoroughfare in an apparently
needless way.
But looking little further into the
affair-and we made this our entertain
ment as we walked home e-it seemed to
US something was to be said for him.
There was a violent motive of some kind
driving him forward. He might have
been running for physician for his child
who had sickened suddenly He might
have seen a person III danger whom he
was in haste to save. He might have
had engagements, the failure to meet
which might have been of serious con
sequence to other parties as well as to
himself He could not calculate for every
man who might suddenly G. me round the
corner and obstruct his way.
Against us perhaps might be alleged
careless, selfish way of walking the street,
as if it belonged to US We were ''off
guard" We were not considering the
things of others. To US there happened
hrf inlt rbiob JiJ NOT aro,
our hat ; but if the stranger had stopped
to explain and apologize, it might have
cost his train, and have caused him to
himself apd in his disappointed friends.
He did have time to stop Supposing
him to be only as sensitive as ourself, we
had given him pain. On his journey he
might frequently say to himself, Il must
have3seemed very rude; l did not intend
to run against that gentleman, and there
was no time to explain. And then he
begged my pardon, when | should have
sought his. So the sensitive traveller
may have gone on way suffering.
Think thus we began to be uneasy.
We we're sorry that had apologized for
obstructing the path of the enterprising
fellow citizen. IF We had been silent he !
might have comforted himself by growl-
ing over the stupid fellow who had stood
on his track and did not perceive what an
awkward thing he was doirg. As i, was,
our poiteness was an atiliction to him.
But were We to torment ourself for
begging strangers pardon, under cir
stances IN which he mi ght be supposed |
to be the party to apologize? No. 1t was
instructive. And whether he was at fault I
or not, was question for him, the set
tlement of which would not make our
case better or worse We are bound to
think of others, and care for others, and |
keep out of other peoples way We are
bound to cultivate in ourself the habit of
thinking that the other party is not to .
blame when anything unpleasant occurs
We were glad that the apology had been
jolted out of US 1t showed that our
charity was in wholesome state of cul-
time to think, and then had made the
apology, it might seemed to us more ven
eerlng, perhaps mere varnish on veneer.
But something wrong had happened, and
we instantly felt that the other party
might think that we held him to blame,
when We did not Instinctively therefore
We said. I'm very sorry. | beg your
pardon !" Then quietly we determined
to cultivate in oursef the grace of look
ing on the things of others for the good
of others.
Gracious What a screed we have
written on street collision Let no
man think he can contrive to collide with
Impunity. Once or twice men have done
that thing, and we fell from grace. The
sum OF which is: |. Do nor heedlessly
lash along the highways of life; 3 Keep
out of other peoples way.