Have nothing to do with men in a pa.s.sion, for they are not like iron, to be wrought on when they are hot.
72
Anger generally begins with folly, and ends with repentance.
--_Pythagoras._
73
He who subdues his anger, conquers his greatest enemy.
74
A fit of anger is as fatal to dignity as a dose of a.r.s.enic to life.
--_J. G. Holland._
75
It is much better to reprove, than to be angry secretly.
76
Catch not too soon at an offence, nor give too easy way to anger; the one shows a weak judgment, the other a perverse nature.
77
He who can suppress a moment"s anger, may prevent a day of sorrows.
78
Nothing can be more unjust, or ridiculous, than to be angry with others because they are not of our opinion.
79
When a man grows angry, his reason flies out.
--_Spanish._
80
Animals are such agreeable friends--they ask no questions, they pa.s.s no criticisms.
--_George Eliot._
81
HIS CREATURES.
The daughter of an army officer, whose life had been spent in the far west, told the following anecdote: "Indians, when they accept Christianity, very often hold its truths with peculiar simplicity.
"There was near our fort an old chief called Ta.s.sorah. One day, when I was an impulsive girl, I was in a rage at my pony, and dismounting, beat him severely. The old man stood by, silent for a moment.
""What words have I heard from Jesus?" he said, sternly. "If you love not your brother whom you have seen, how can you love G.o.d whom you have not seen?"
""This horse is not my brother!" I said scornfully.
"The old man laid his hand on the brute"s head and turned it toward me.
The eyes were full of terror.
""Is not G.o.d his creator? Must He not care for him?" he said. "Not a sparrow falls to the ground without His notice."
"I never forgot the lesson. It flashed on me then for the first time that the dog that ran beside me, the birds, the very worms were His, and I, too, was one of His great family."
82
Kindness to animals is no unworthy exercise of benevolence. We hold that the life of brutes perishes with their breath, and that they are never to be clothed again with consciousness. The inevitable shortness then of their existence should plead for them touchingly. The insects on the surface of the water, poor ephemeral things, who would needlessly abridge their dancing pleasure of to-day? Such feelings we should have towards the whole animate creation.
--_Sir Arthur Helps._
83
THE GRACIOUS ANSWER.
(The first half of each stanza should be subdued; the last half confident and full of a.s.surance.)
The way is dark, my Father! Cloud on cloud Is gathering thickly o"er my head, and loud The thunders roar above me. See, I stand Like one bewildered! Father, take my hand, And through the gloom Lead safely home Thy child!
The way is dark, my child! But leads to light.
I would not always have thee walk by sight.
My dealings now thou canst not understand.
I meant it so; but I will take thy hand, And through the gloom Lead safely home My child!
The day goes fast, my Father! And the night Is growing darkly down. My faithless sight Sees ghostly visions. Fears, a spectral band, Encompa.s.s me. O Father! Take my hand, And from the night Lead up to light Thy child!
The day goes fast, my child! But is the night Darker to me than Day? In me is light!
Keep close to me, and every spectral band Of fears shall vanish. I will take thy hand, And through the night Lead up to light My child!
The way is long, my Father! And my soul Longs for the rest and quiet of the goal; While yet I journey through this weary land, Keep me from wandering. Father, take my hand; Quickly and straight Lead to Heaven"s gate Thy child!
The way is long, my child! But it shall be Not one step longer than is best for thee; And thou shalt know, at last, when thou shalt stand Safe at the goal, how I did take thy hand, And quick and straight Lead to Heaven"s gate My child!
The path is rough, my Father! Many a thorn Has pierced me; and my weary feet, all torn And bleeding, mark the way. Yet Thy command Bids me press forward. Father, take my hand; Then, safe and blest, Lead up to rest Thy child!