Taking Offence.

Otago Witness, Issue 1652, 21 July 1883, Page 24

Taking Offence.

' &. word or a sentence may fall from tho lip •Unnoticed by him who allowed it to slip, ' While sharp 03 an arrow it flies to the breast Of one he ia truest affection careßSod. 'The sweet smile of joy and voice of delight Then suddenly alter their sunshine to night ; Unconscious he wonders, aud labours in vain 'JCa learn the reason -or cause of the pain. He ponders and puzzles o'er converso and jest, To gather the topica and place them iv test ; At last he remembers the words he had used, While chance to recall them is coldly refused. , The fun had been passing, in tones light and freo, When he uttered those words to add to tho glee ; They were thoughtless aud foolish, although not unkind, ( And never intended to rest in the mind. ' But words spoken rashly oft fall with a crash, And life's dearest friendships destroy ia a dash : Ihe .keen evil arrow sinks deep ia the heatt, And holds two affectionate bosoms apart. " ' But why take offence, where offence was not 1 '" meant? Or unguarded words, why so keenly resent ? Remember the spirit in which they ware gi.'en, And where there was wrong, let the wrong bo for- , given. The heart which is stung by these arrows of woe, Must hold them embraced in its ionom aglow. The act of embracing produces the pain, Which eases or sharpens, according to strain. And yet we caress them as treasures so dear, And drop on their images mauy a tearDisdaining our friends, and delighting our foe 3, Distracting our sinses woile nursing our woes. So childish the action, so foolish the plan, Appears to each one at a cursory scan : In punishing others, ourselves we chastise— A course which is neither becoming nor wise. K. N. Adams. July 12th, 1883.