GOOD WORDS.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 207, 28 June 1878, Page 7

GOOD WORDS.

The most valuable part of a man's education is that wliich he receives from hirasaJfl

If we had no faults ourselves, we should not havp so much pleasure in discovering the faults of others. Little joys refresh us constantly, like house-bread, and never bring disgust ; and great ones, like sugar-bread, briefly, and then satiety. Revenge is a momentary triumph, of which the satisfaction dies at once, and is succeeded by remorse ; whereas forgiveness, which is the noblest of all revenge, entails a perpetual pleasure. Content, the dirinest joy, that fulness, of perfect peace, that only true rest of the soul, is the gift of God through work, true work, work in which we can see meaning and use, and which we can accomplish. .

Most of us have had troubles all our lives, and each day has brought all the evil that we wished to endure. But if we were asked to recount the sorrows of our lives, how many could we remember ? How many that are six months old should we think worthy to bo remembered or mentioned? Today's troubles look large, but a week hence they will be forgotten.

The " man of leisure " who has never been anything else may think that to "dawdle" through life is his special forte. Though indolence is not bliss to him, he supposes that exertion would be a still greater bore. He is mistaken. Let him try the role of the man of actioß, and he will soon find that labonr confers more happiness than laziness. Ask any one who has tried both, and he will confess that industry is the best policy.

There are children of peculiar temperaments whose whole lives are rendered a burden to them by the fact tbat the persons set over them, either parents, guardians, or teachers, are destitute of sympathy tor them, and do not think it worth while to try what a change in the plan of managing them would do. There are hundreds, nay, thousands of children set down as sullen, dogged, obstinate, and treated with harshness, who live lives of dull wretchedness because they do not know what is wrong with them and no one takes pains enough to try to set things straight for them and make them happier.

There are two ways of getting through this world. One way is to make the best of it, and the otter is to make the worst of it. Those who take the latter course work bard for poor pay. There are many fruits that never turn sweet until the frost has laid upon them ; there are many nuts that never fall from the boughs of tbe forest trees till the frost has opened and ripened them ; and there are many elements of life that never grow sweet and beautiful until sorrow touches them.

Innocent faults are always pardoned by .a kind parent. You may not know, girls, just what is right, just what is wrong, yet — you cannot be blamed for for making little mistakes; but you will never do anything very wrong if from the first you have no secrets from your mother.

Fasting is at times the best medicine, the means of removing incipient disease, and restoring to the body its usual healthful sensations. Howard and Franklin often fasted one day in the week ; and Bonaparte, when his system was unstrung, omitted his wonted meal, and took exercise on horseback, as his only remedies.

Self-trust is the first secret of success • — the belief that, if you are here, the authorities of the universe have put you here, and for a cause, or with some task strictly appointed you in your constitution ; and so long as you work at that you are well and successful. It by no means consists in rushing prematurely to a showy feat that shall catch the eye and satisfy spectators. It i 9 enough it you work in the right direction.

Happiness between husband and wife can only be secured by that constant tenderness and care of the parties for each other which are based upon warm and demonstrative love. The heart demands that the man shall not sit reticent, self-absorbed; and silent in the midst of his family. The woman who forgets to provide for her husband's ta9te9 and wishes renders her home undesirable for him. In a word, everpresent and ever- demonstrative gentleness must reign, or else the heart starves.

Nothing is more honourable and pleasant than civility, and nothing more ridiculous and burdensome than ceremony. Civility teaches us to behave with proportionate respect to every one, according as their rank requires and their merit demands. In other words, civility is the science of men of the world. A woman of good address,* who conducts herself with due circumspection, conciliates the love and esteem of society, because every one finds herself at ease in her company; but a ceremonious woman is the plague of her acquaintance. Such a one requires too much attention to be a pleasant associate, is too seldom satisfied with what is paid her, and every moment feels her pride hurt by the want of some frivolous etiquette. You cannot be too formal to her, nor can she dispense with her formalities to others. ■ In short, ceremony was invented by pride to harass us with puerile solicitudes which we should blush to be conversant with; aa: ■ • y A\.