Life and Literature Part 56

780

There is so much bad in the best of us, And so much good in the worst of us, That it hardly behooves any of us, To talk about the rest of us.

--_Robert Louis Stevenson._

781

_Leviticus xix. 16._--"Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people."

At a small town in ----shire lives a decent honest woman, who has for more than forty years gained her livelihood by washing in gentlemen's families. She gives the highest satisfaction to all her employers, and has, in several instances, been the whole of that time in the employ of the same families. Indeed, those whom she has once served never wish to part with her. She has one distinguishing excellency, it is this: through all this course of years,--forty--she has never been known, by either mistress or servant, to repeat in one house what was said or done in another.

--_John Whitecross_, _Edinburgh, 1835_.

782

Tale-bearers, as I said before, are just as bad as the tale-makers.

--_Sheridan._

783

The inquisitive are the funnels of conversation; they do not take in anything for their own use, but merely to pa.s.s it to others.

--_Steele._

784

What future misery ought they to endure who talk of what is not good in others.

--_Chinese Maxim._

785

If families have no sons devoted to letters, whence are the governors of the people to come?

(Necessity for general education.)

--_Chinese._

786

He governs best who governs least.

--_Latin._

787

GRACE.

Some hae meat and canna eat, And some that want it, but canna get it; But we hae meat, and we can eat, And sae the Lord be thankit.

--_Burns._

788

REBUKED BY A KING.

The king of one of the Friendly Islands became a Christian, and once went on board of a British vessel, where he was invited to dine with the officers. Observing he did not taste his food, the Captain inquired the cause; when the simple native replied, that he was waiting for the blessing to be asked. All felt rebuked, and the king was desired to say grace, which he did with becoming solemnity.

789

Expect not praise from the mean, Neither grat.i.tude from the selfish.

790

THANKS--FOR FAVORS.

Your bounty is beyond my speaking; But though my mouth be dumb, my heart shall thank you; And when it melts before the throne of mercy, My fervent soul shall breathe one tear for you, That heaven will pay you back, when most you need, The grace and goodness you have shown to me.

791

G.o.d judges your grat.i.tude more by your hands than by your hymns.

792

Many a thanksgiving sermon mistakes glorification of self for grat.i.tude to G.o.d.

793

May we look around us with pleasure, And above us with grat.i.tude.

794