Friends and Neighbors   By: Timothy S. Arthur (1809-1885)

or, Two Ways of Living in the World.

Edited by By T. S. Arthur

PHILADELPHIA:

1856

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 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 HUMAN PROGRESS MY WASHERWOMAN FORGIVE AND FORGET OWE NO MAN ANYTHING RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL PUTTING YOUR HAND IN YOUR NEIGHBOUR'S POCKET KIND WORDS NEIGHBOURS' QUARRELS GOOD WE MIGHT DO THE TOWN LOT THE SUNBEAM AND THE RAINDROP A PLEA FOR SOFT WORDS MR. QUERY'S INVESTIGATIONS ROOM IN THE WORLD WORDS THE THANKLESS OFFICE. LOVE "EVERY LITTLE HELPS" LITTLE THINGS CARELESS WORDS HOW TO BE HAPPY CHARITY ITS OBJECTS THE VISION OF BOATS REGULATION OF THE TEMPER MANLY GENTLENESS SILENT INFLUENCE ANTIDOTE FOR MELANCHOLY THE SORROWS OF A WEALTHY CITIZEN "WE'VE ALL OUR ANGEL SIDE" BLIND JAMES DEPENDENCE TWO RIDES WITH THE DOCTOR KEEP IN STEP JOHNNY COLE THE THIEF AND HIS BENEFACTOR JOHN AND MARGARET GREYLSTON THE WORLD WOULD BE THE BETTER FOR IT TWO SIDES TO A STORY LITTLE KINDNESSES LEAVING OFF CONTENTION BEFORE IT BE MEDDLED WITH "ALL THE DAY IDLE" THE BUSHEL OF CORN THE ACCOUNT CONTENTMENT BETTER THAN WEALTH RAINBOWS EVERYWHERE

FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS.

GOOD IN ALL.