Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1895-11-21
The Old Mans Nelghbors.

Charity by confession is an universal
quality of the hnmau heart. The old
man has been surprised nj the transit
tory nature of charity as practiced by
those who have spasmodic overtiows of
this good Christian quality. The adj.
monition to the right hand not to in
form the left hand of its good deeds
may he accepted, but it so, it is because
the hand is easier to control than the
tongue. Olc of the sweetest comforts
of a large class of people is the dessem-
ination of the Information that they
are very good indeed. 1t is n deplola-
bic fact, however, that the good deeds
are SO small in comparison with the
reports of them that are circulated.
TO illustrate the transitory nature of
the common charity of the country the
old man would cite .he fact that many
of the good resolutions to do the good
things promised are never born into
overt acts. The beginning and end of
the impulse is too often only an out
burst of self laudation. Impetuosity
sometimes carries the voluble Samari-
tan to the point of gathering some wait
to his bosom for brief season of refuge.
But how apt is the one so able to be
a true benefactor to grow tired OF his
good office. The common form Of re-
pudating the obligation made IN the
better moments of life is to impute a
grevious fault to the helpless one t.
justify the act The Old Mans neigh
Dor turned ar innocent child from his
door with an undescrved reputation of
an incorrigibility to endure with its
original burdens for no other cause
than to furnish solace for his perjured
soul Oh! what tickle goddess is
Charity.
S'elfishness is ah universal quality of
of humanity, but it is not like Charity
generally confessed. Faith, creed and
Christianity have failed to make one
whit less of seltishness in the world as
civilization advances.
Even the childish mind compre-
hends the philosophy of moral ethics
that makes good people happy and
leads bad people to the opposite eX.
tremes; but selfish motives are more
potent than good resolutions. This
leads the old man near to to the
idea of total depravity. Though Chars
ity is spasmodic and seltishness reigns
supreme the composite humanity has
more of the good than the bad in the
passions that are the motives for oul
acts. There is sympathy Of heart for
heart that gives pain for pain and JOY
for iox; Yt11ll sasan is in Il state of ma
ture!: Tine balance of forces that con
tend for good and for evil is maintained
as the changes progress. The gooC
get better as the bad get worse AS life
is Bonded from the straws, sand ant
clay of experience. The Old mans
| neighbor is growing meanner every
| day. He is so selfish that he holds hi,
wife accountable for every mistortun.
that befalls the family and credit.
himself with every success that has at
tended their efforts.
1t may be true as Il selfish considera
ton that "if igorance is bliss it is folly
} to be wise.n My neighbor is as ignor
ant of the ways of the world as wa
| Robinson Crusoe's goat In his cas-
| ignorance is not even innocence. Hi
depraved nature sharpens his power
to discover and magnify every thins
that borders upon scandal. Ever
small children suffer from the sting o
his forlled tongue. If the child is IA
pure in thought as an angel ana he
eyes reflect her character he will tel
you that her mother and her siste
whom you do not know We're not good
This neighbor hides his ignoranc
which darkens his soul like pail owe
the casket of n felon, by false pretense
of damaging knowledge Of the conduc
Of the women of the neighbOrhoOd. |
is the highest praise to bestow upo
the fair sex to say that the most igno
tant members Of society have Tia
worst stories to ponder ubon, to b,
lieve, and to relate. Among refine
people woman's fair name is gem {
purest ray. OLD MAN.
1