The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-12-16
Our Petty Quarrels.

No one knows from whence they
came. We knoW<that all was smooth
sailing yesterday but that we awoke
this morning to the knowledge that
we were at odds with relative, or
friend, an acquaintance, or, with the
world in general. Or, possibly, 1t
may be a matter of years since some
strifling thing entered its wedge into
the heart of our solid rock of faith in
place of which there now lies
yawning chasm, unbridged. And, all
these long years, or pride-our false
unbending, shameful, has
kept us from making those over
lures which would have healed and
made forgetfulness possible. And,
too, there is always the possibility
that tomorrow may be too late, that
the reparation which we postponed
from day to day may never be made
because of another power which
sends mans plans into chaotic con-
fusion when it wills.
The remembrance of our differ
ences with our kith and kin, our
friends and our world comes upon
us peculiarly emphatic at this sea-
son of the year when sleighbells and
the Christmas holly and the carols
and the shop windows seem to be
whispering and nodding at each 9TH
er, peace on earth, good will to
men" 1t may be but a petty thing,
this quarrel of ours, a friendly tiff"
with dear companion, a difference
of opinion, with an acquaintance or
a neighbor, flash of anger in which
one said things which we did not
mean but which were hard to retract,
or, possibly, the chasm is more deeply
yawning or an act or deed of ours has
set us outside the gates of the SYM
pathy and love of our fellow men, or
our family, or because of the act
or deed of another, we have wandered
down the bleak pathway, growing
more grabbed and sour and bitter
with each gray hair. And the little
children to whom the Christmas
should mean the happiest period of
the year, draw aside as we pass and
our frown takes from them, ire
claima5ly, something of their child
ish sweetness of faith.
What fools we are to quarrel with
ourselves, our friends, our kin, our
circumstances. What folly to let
our false pride rule and sway us and
seal our lips to the expressions of
kindness which should be preemin-
ent at this season. We are aware to-
day, that we made mistake yester-
day, but are we broad enough, strong
enough brave enough, splendid
enough to forget our stubborn selves
this Christmas though, in the white
heat of our anger, we vowed that we
should not make an overture, or take
. tie first step or speak the first word
that was calculated to make of the
past forgotten thing
1t is a cynical, worthless individu-
al, indeed, who can live out the
Christmas season and nurse his
quarrel within his breast as warmly
as ever. 1t is a strange soul which
can hear peace on earth, good will
to men" at every side without feel
ing the ice barriers melting away
about him and his rigid fingers loos-
ening into a friendly hand clasp. Our
~petty quarrels-products of our petty
themselves and our petty selfishness-
can they outlve season symbolic OF
one who forget self for over THIRTY
years in order that men might live,
Now and then, one meets man who
who points with pride to the number
of years he has not spoken to his
wife or his brothers or his children
or his neighbor. But, ] say, shame
and more shame for every SECOND
that elapses, the glaciers unmelted.
We cannot afford to quarrel no,
TO set ourselves apart with the con
viction that our lives have bee,
wrecked, our careers blighted, on,
happiness ruined by that which ha,
occurred in the past. While we We
breathe, there is time, as long as on,
little child presses it's feverish brow
against the unsympathetic window
pane which separates it from fairy
land, there is opportunity. On,
chance is open while there is a roo
or a loaf of bread at our disposal
though there be few pennies in GU
purse. What more glorious thin,
this Christmas than to preserve tina
simple, trusting faith, the sweetes
memory of youth and save that chill,
the broken heart that comes witt
powledge of the truth?
pur quarrels. Do they not seer
and more petty and foolish an
to you and are you quite sur
you could have done no differ
~? If a kindly Providence still
bes you opportunity to make peac
18th that with which you have fool
lshly quarreled, go forth today an
make that peace for the sake of thos
who waited a day too late and VIII
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