The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-02-21
UNPLEASANT PEOPLE.
Desirable Moral Qualities That Should he
Cultivated by the Young.

Desirable Moral Qualities That Should lie
Cultivated by tho Young.
Certain moral qualities arc very much
to BIO desired, Il we are to be easy to
live with. amiabie, gentle, agreeable
comrades. in short, on the road of life.
One OF these is unselfshness. habit of
thinking first Of others, and second of
ourselves; sweet willingness to abate
our own rights. il they interfere with
the comfort of our neighbors. Patience
is another estimablc attribute; self-con-
troll another.
overheard Louisa talking with Annie
ono day. not long ago, and she remark
ed, evidently as matter of course: II
have the family infirmity Of an uncer-
tain temper We Browns are all noted
for our impulsiveness. We fly mp in a
moment, but, then, we get over it
quickly, and never bear malice" It
happened thus, little while after, in a
public conveyance, a gentleman con-
versing with his friend, gave utterance
to similar sentiment: Il 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 Boosting Of Il defect.
It was very much rs though some UNI
fortunately short-sighted person should
plume himself on cxclusiycncss. because
he could not see every body within long
range; or cripple should declare his
laneness mark Of distinction. Not to
control ones impetuosity Of anger; not
to be able to pardon an offense. are
signs Of ingrained weakness or charac-
ter. and should make one ashamed
rather than conccited. Ill-tcmpered
people are difficult people.
Difficult, too. are those who, in all
circumstances, insist on having the last
word. When | was girl. had wise
old friend, over whose snowy hair more
than eighty winters had sifted white
ness. Once, in n moment OF irritation,
spoke in that serene presence OF the
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 perfect right; but
let i'her folk talk on. Dinna be sac
bound to haze the final word. Ancc We
have said your say. let it rest it therer'
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 world of misery
and wretchcdness would he spared il
uVQOdy WIZ CNSI VII ttlC lOOhOuL lOI
sights. They who are fancying Turk
ing ennuendo, or vailed insinnation. 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 certain household,
not long since. in the hearing Of cler.
gyman, whose good sense hold in
honor. 1T would be such happy
home.' | said, IF Mr.. --- were no,
such bear that his wife and children
are frever in fear Of stirring him up
He is Christian" l added, and got M
| farther, for my my friend interrupted
me with: "Humph! ! am in some
| doubt. AChristian should not conduc1
| 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 mar
needs to be reconverted."
Now, boys and girls. we older one:
arc apt to be rather set in our ways
and it is hard for us to reform il WI
have acquired bad habits. The petri
| faction will break rather than bend
but there YVES time when it wss sOf
and plant. That plant time is yours
You can make yourself what you will
under God You know what discipline
does for the seldieN how it transform
the raw recruit into the rrarvel OF pre-
cision and grace. Try what discipline
will do for you, and when you are il
danger of being less than noble, sin
cerc and gracious, hold yourselves wei
in hand. Prayer and pains will keel
any one from being difficult.
In Mrs Muloch-Craik's "Alistres
and Maid there is Il certain personag
who aespotizcs the little household b.
periodical displays OF unreason ant
acclbity, spoken of with bated breath
as Miss Selina's way" You and
have perhaps encountered Miss Selma
doib'e. Now it is mother, who, poo
thing, has had SO much to worry her
that worry has grown to he her norma
conditions; row, it is maiden aunt, an
again a young girl. who INDUCES i
w:im and caprice, fails to keep the lay
OF kindness, so behaves as to alienat
instead of attract, ana to be a kill-jo
everywhere. She Is difficult to get o
with; young people dread and old pes
pl, avoid her, and the angels probabl
behold her with pity. From Difficult
people we humbly pray: Good Lore
! deliver u.s..
But the good Lord intends that W
shall deliver ourselves from prevent
BILE evils. and on our own conscience
lies the blame. Il we do not cultivat
tic temper from which the fruits (
the spirit may spring, - Margaret
Sanss.or, n Interior.