Part 44 (2/2)

The deep flush faded from the face, a cool perspiration spread over it, and he slept.

In about one hour he awoke, and was hungry.

The parents said:-

”Wait until we get home, and you shall have some [30]

gruel.”

[Page 226.]

But Mrs. Rawson said:-[1]

”Give the child what he relishes, and doubt not that the Father of all will care for him.”

Thus, the unbiased youth and the aged Christian carried the case on the side of G.o.d; and, after eating [5]

several ice-creams, the clergyman's son returned home -_well_.

Perfidy And Slander

What has an individual gained by losing his own self- respect? or what has he lost when, retaining his own, [10]

he loses the homage of fools, or the pretentious praise of hypocrites, false to themselves as to others?

Shakespeare, the immortal lexicographer of mortals, writes:-

To thine own self be true, [15]

And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.

When Aristotle was asked what a person could gain by uttering a falsehood, he replied, ”Not to be credited when he shall tell the truth.” [20]

The character of a liar and hypocrite is so contempti- ble, that even of those who have lost their honor it might be expected that from the violation of truth they should be restrained by their pride.

Perfidy of an inferior quality, such as manages to evade [25]

the law, and which dignified natures cannot stoop to notice, except legally, disgraces human nature more than do most vices.

Slander is a midnight robber; the red-tongued a.s.sas- sin of radical worth; the conservative swindler, who [30]

[Page 227.]

sells himself in a traffic by which he can gain nothing [1].

It can retire for forgiveness to no fraternity where its crime may stand in the place of a virtue; but must at length be given up to the hisses of the mult.i.tude, with- out friend and without apologist. [5]

Law has found it necessary to offer to the innocent, security from slanderers-those pests of society-when their crime comes within its jurisdiction. Thus, to evade the penalty of law, and yet with malice aforethought to extend their evil intent, is the nice distinction by which [10]

they endeavor to get their weighty stuff into the hands of gossip! Some uncharitable one may give it a forward move, and, ere that one himself become aware, find himself responsible for kind (?) endeavors.

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