Essays on Social Subject BY A LADY.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 127, 25 July 1868, Page 4

Essays on Social Subject BY A LADY.

No. lI.—ON THE POWER OF KINDNESS. The Power of Kindness ! Who can doubt it; who can deny it ? How many instances occur to us which we have either seen or experienced. Ought not such reminiscences to work upon our hearts hi such a way as, in their turn, to cause gentle thoughts and grateful remembrances. Let us go back to the days of our childhood —the days of sugar-candy and marbles. How well we can recall the smiling faces of the kind and thoughtful donors ; even the effects of such trifling acts of kindness as these are lasting, and cause us many happy moments, although we have long since outgrown the taste for those juvenile luxuries. Children are more prone to notice little acts of kindness than those of a more advanced age. I suppose it is because our natures get hardened by the rough experience of the world, yet I trust not so hai’dened as to prevent ns from bestowing little kindnesses as we journey through life; rest assured opportunities will not be wanting. A benevolent disposition will show itself—will make itself felt somehow. Notice for instance how infants and dogs instinctively shrink from some persons. You may take it for granted that they are not kind ; we can have no better criterion than this. If you have, nothing more important to attract your attention apd occupy your thoughts, just notice, as you go through any crowded street, the different expression on the faces of the passer by. Some we feel inclined to give a good boxing ; and we meet others again whom we naturally recoil from, and congratulate ourselves that we are not at his or her mercy. Then, too, we see those gentle faces which, though we may never see again, haunt us in our dreams, we feel, we know they are kind ; and another thing in which we may trace the , existence of kindness is the voice. There are those nice, kind, cheery voices, which seem to come right from the heart, and stir up lots of good thoughts and feelings in us, and there are hard, cold, wintry voices, which make us shiver in the middle of summer. These things, trifling though they seem, are the outward and visible signs of what is passing within. We may try and smother what is good or bad in our natures, but it will out in some form, in defiance of our efforts. It is pleasant to think that there are no natures so bad but can be made to feel ‘ ‘ the power of kindness ,” and that there is no act of kindness done by us but is returned to us “after many days.” Nor is kindness alwa3 7 s a question of doing ; a kind word will often do much towards making a fellow-creature happy. Why then are we too sparing of them ? There is many a bashful young fledgeling just winging his way into society, vainly attempting to appear at home in his first dress-coat, and feeling ready to sink under the table at his first dinner-party, who can answer for the considerate kindness of some good-natured friend who talks away attention from him; Many of us know what it is to feel the colour mounting to the very roots of our hair, through being stared at by some vulgarminded person opposite. A feeling of this kind often seals the lips of a well-informed, sensible, but sensitive man or woman, when a little kindness—a little delicacy might prevent it. Thoughtful kindness in trifling matters of this kind is never forgotten. Another thing in which the' want of kindness is wofully apparent, is in what is vulgarly termed snubbing. What is the consequence of children having been snubbed all their Me ? They are so fully persuaded that their opinion is worth nothing—that they are uobodies, they lose even proper self-respect, and become mere nonentities or something worse. Why not listen kindly and encouragingly, and withhold that shut-up sort of look we so often see given across the table, and which to outsiders seems to mean so much more than it really does. I have noticed poor children who have not recovered from the effect of a look of this unmistakable kind for a whole evening. - Such children make those “Uriah Heep ” sort of men; they are so very “ umble ’’ that they sneak through life expecting kicks and cuffs at every turn. Parents don’t snub your children ! don’t check their ideas while yet in the bud, and they may shoot forth into evergreens that will shelter them from the world’s contempt. There are some fine highspirited children whom you can’t snub ; the .attempt only provokes a retort, and what follows ? They attain that stand - alone sort of : niauner so common to the children of New Zealand, and they learn too soon to do without your affection. Treat them with confidence, make them dependant on your love, and both your happiness and theirs will be considerably increased; Make them feel the power of kindness, and the rod of correction will never be required;., How many there are who fly to the stick when a work of kindness would answer a .. thousand times better. I remember as a child I had a strong antipathy to the stick, and I still

retain a wholesome horror of it. Throw as much energy into the kindness as you would expend in the chastisement, and mark the effect. I have heard the boys about town saying,— “Iff hart a rtonkev and it. won! n’t sro. Do you think i’rt whollop him— oti V no, no; T'rt ai'ii it some buy, I’rt iri'e it some straw, i’rt lend it untilt it couldn’t cat any more.” Now I am afraid we are all too fond of wholloping our donkies. Were we to adopt the hay and straw system, I am sure we should get on a great deal better. Injudicious severity has been the means of sending many a boy out into the world before he is able to take care of himself, and a depraved reckless life has been the fatal and frequent consequences. What meaning does the word home convey to them ? None of those holy feelings which till the hearts of the more fortunate. Try them with the 'power of kindness ; it has brought many an erring one back to the path of virtue. Then—- “ Speak kindly to the eiring one. Kind uoirts way win them hack; J- tom \il thoughts and evil ways. To \irtucs own bright track. I am sure I have no need to persue this subject further ; I trust no eyes will read these lines and remain unconvinced, and no hearts be found who will dare to doubt the Power of Kindness. Blenheim, July 23rd, 1868. Q.