The Arizona sentinel., 1889-02-23
DIFFICULT PEOPLE.
Desirable Moral Qualities That Should Be
Cultivated by the Young.

Desirable Moral Qualities That Should BE
Cultivated by the Young.
Certain moral qualities are very much
to be desired, if we are to be easy to
live with, amiable, gentle, agreeable
comrades, in short, on the road of life.
One of these is unselishness, habit of
thinking first of others, and second of
ourselves; a sweet willingness to abate
our own rights, if they interfere with
the comfort of our neighbors. Patience
is another estimable attribute; self-con-
troll another.
overheard Louisa talking with Annie
one day, not long ago, and she remark
ed, evidently as a matter of course: 81
have the family infirmity of an uncer-
tain temper. We Browns are all noted
for our impulsiveness. We fly up in a
moment, but, then, we get over it
quickly, and never bear malice" 1t
happened thus, little while after, in a
public conveyance, a gentleman con-
versing with his friend, gave utterance
to similar sentiment: 81 have long
memory for injuries. / can carry a
stone in my pocket seven years, and
send it whizzing home at last, to the
weak spot in my antagonists armor."
In both cases, the amazing thing, con-
sidered from the Christian standpoint,
was the complacency of the individuals
who were actually boasting of defect.
1t was very much as though some un-
fortunately short-sighted person should
plume himself on exclusiveness. because
he could not see every body within long
range; or cripple should declare his
lameness a mark of distinction. Not to
control ones impetuosity of anger; not
to be able to pardon an offense, are
signs of ingrained weakness of charac-
ter, and should make one ashamed
rather than cOnceited. Ill-tempered
people are difficult people.
Difficult, too, are those who, in all
circumstances, insist on having the last
word. When / was a girl, / had wise
old friend, over whose snowy hair more
than eighty winters had sifted white
ness. Once, il a moment of irritation,
Il
impossibility of convincing some hard
headed body or other that his opinion
was founded on mere prejudice, and de-
claimed as to the superiority of my own
view. ''Whisht, honey" said the good
old lady; "keep your ain mind on the
subject. Ye hae a perfect right; but
let ither folk talk on. Dinna be sac
bound to hae the final word Ance We
have said your say, let it rest it theren'
Oh, the common sense of that ance.
Once we have our say, let it rest. 1t is
the everlasting determination to have
the last word which makes people diff
cult.
But worse still are those crusty souls
who are ready to deem themselves af-
fronted, when nothing is further from
the intentions of their friends than a
wound to their vanity. Amour prOpre,
as the French have it, is in some very
easily hurt. What a world of misery
and wretchedness would be spared if
nobody were ever on the lookout for
Sights. They who are fancying lurk- !
ing ennuendO, or vailed insinuatiOn, in |
every innocent speech, are far from
pleasant companions to themselves, or
to those whom they meet socially. And |
when one is not on good terms with |
himself, he is very sure to be difficult.
/ was describing a certain household, |
not long since, in the hearing of cler-
gyman, whose good sense | hold in
honor cit would be such a happy |
home" said, 'if Mr.. - were not
such bear that his wife and children |
are forever in fear of stirring him up.
He is Christian" l added, and got no
farther, for my my friend interrupted |
me with: 'Humph! / am in some |
doubt. A Christian should not conduct |
himself so that he keeps the domestic |
atmosphere at boiling point, nor habit
ually act as check on the gayety of his !
dearest on earth. I'm afraid the man |
needs to be recOnverted."
Now, boys and girls, we older ones |
are apt to be rather set in our ways, |
and it is hard for us to reform if we |
have acquired bad habits. The petri |
faction will break rather than bend, |
but there was time when it was soft |
and plant. That plant time is yours.
You can make yourself what you will, |
under God You know what discipline |
does for the soldier, how it transforms |
the raw recruit into the marvel of pre- |
cision and grace. Try what discipline |