FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS; OR, Two Ways of Living in the World.
EDITED BYT. S. ARTHUR.
PHILADELPHIA: H. C. PECK & THEO. BLISS.
1856.Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1856, by H.C. PECK & THEO. BLISS, In the Clerk's Office of the District court of the United States, in and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. STEREOTYPED BY E. B. MEARS. PRINTED BY SMITH & PETERS., Franklin Buildings, Sixth Street, below Arch Philadelphia
PREFACE.
WE were about preparing a few words of introduction to this volume, the materials for which have been culled from the highways and byways of literature, where our eyes fell upon these fitting sentiments, the authorship of which we are unable to give. They express clearly and beautifully what was in our own mind:—
If we would only bring ourselves to look at the subjects that surround as in their true flight, we should see beauty where now appears deformity, and listen to harmony where we hear nothing but discord. To be sure there is a great deal of vexation and anxiety in the world; we cannot sail upon a summer sea for ever; yet if we preserve a calm eye and a steady hand, we can so trim our sails and manage our helm, as to avoid the quicksands, and weather the storms that page: 4-5 (Table of Contents) [View Page 4-5 (Table of Contents) ] threaten shipwreck. We are members of one great family; we are travelling the same road, and shall arrive at the same goal. We breathe the same air, are subject to the same bounty, and we shall, each lie down upon the bosom of our common mother. It is not becoming, then, that brother should hate brother; it is not proper that friend should deceive friend; it is not right that neighbour should deceive neighbour. We pity that man who can harbour enmity against his fellow; he loses half the enjoyment of life; he embitters his own existence. Let us tear from our eyes the coloured medium that invests every object with the green hue of jealousy and suspicion; turn, a deal ear to scandal; breathe the spirit of charity from our hearts; let the rich gushings of human kindness swell up as a fountain, so that the golden age will become no fiction and islands of the blessed bloom in more than Hyperian beauty."
It is thus that friends and neighbours should live. This is the right way. To aid in the creation of such true harmony among men, has the book now in your hand, reader, been compiled. May the truths that glisten on its pages be clearly reflected in your mind; and the errors it points out be shunned as the foes of yourself and humanity.
CONTENTS.
- GOOD IN ALL Page 7
- HUMAN PROGRESS 12
- MY WASHERWOMAN 15
- FORGIVE AND FORGET 20
- OWE NO MAN ANYTHING 21
- RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL 34
- PUTTING YOUR HAND IN YOUR NEIGHBOUR'S POCKET 38
- KIND WORDS 54
- NEIGHBOURS' QUARRELS 58
- GOOD WE MIGHT DO 61
- THE TOWN LOT 62
- THE SUNBEAM AND THE RAINDROP 73
- A PLEA FOR SOFT WORDS 74
- MR. QUERY'S INVESTIGATIONS 82
- ROOM IN THE WORLD 96
- WORDS 91
- THE THANKLESS OFFICE. 96
- LOVE 103
- "EVERY LITTLE HELPS" 104
- LITTLE THINGS 104
- CARELESS WORDS 105
- HOW TO BE HAPPY 114
- CHARITY—ITS OBJECTS 116
- THE VISION OF BOATS 123
- REGULATION OF THE TEMPER 126
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- MANLY GENTLENESS 130
- SILENT INFLUENCE 139
- ANTIDOTE FOR MELANCHOLY 147
- THE SORROWS OF A WEALTHY CITIZEN 153
- "WE'VE ALL OUR ANGEL SIDE" 164
- BLIND JAMES 166
- DEPENDENCE 183
- TWO RIDES WITH THE DOCTOR 198
- KEEP IN STEP 209
- JOHNNY COLE 211
- THE THIEF AND HIS BENEFACTOR 221
- JOHN AND MARGARET GREYLSTON 225
- THE WORLD WOULD BE THE BETTER FOR IT 253
- TWO SIDES TO A STORY 254
- LITTLE KINDNESSES 265
- LEAVING OFF CONTENTION BEFORE IT BE MEDDLED WITH 268
- "ALL THE DAY IDLE" 274
- THE BUSHEL OF CORN 275
- THE ACCOUNT 289
- CONTENTMENT BETTER THAN WEALTH 290
- RAINBOWS EVERYWHERE 298