KTDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



17 



LITTLE KINDNESSES. 



There is not any benefit so glorious in itself, but it may 

 yet be exceedingly sweetened and improved by the 

 manner of conferring it. The virtue, I ki ow, rests in 

 the intent ; the profit in the judicious application of the 

 matter. But the beauty and ornament of an offligation 

 are seen in the manner of it.— Seneca. 



HE ADVENT OF A NEW YEAR, 

 AND THE DYING EMBERS OP AN 



Old Year, to us have charms 

 that are indescribable. It is 

 at such times that we are able 

 to form our estimate of human 

 nature, and, by comparison, to 

 rejoice exceedingly at what has 

 fallen to our share. 



We observe at these seasons strange con- 

 trarieties. Hearts hard as adamant, — closely 

 hugging what they call " their own." People 

 with narrow souls, — rich in worldly posses- 

 sions, but grudging the merest trifle from 

 their store to make a poor fellow-creature's 

 heart glad. Purse-proud Pharisees — (want- 

 ing for nothing but a tender heart) ; — warmly 

 and sumptuously clad, looking down with 

 supreme contempt upon the shivering 

 wretches that everywhere cross their path. 

 In a word, Mammon riding rough-shod over 

 all the better feelings of our common nature. 

 We never fail to recognise much of this, 

 during the festive seasons of social rejoicings. 

 If the iron -hearted performers in this drama 

 of life could only hear expressed the stifled 

 maledictions that rapidly course through the 

 arteries of our heart, we imagine they would 

 feel startled. These men, who vaunt so 

 much about the " dignity of human nature," 

 — how they cumber the earth ! 



Well ; let us change the scene. Happy 

 are we to say, that we do not boast of having 

 buttoned up our pockets,* nor of having 

 hardened our better feelings against the 

 wants, necessities, and even pleasures of those 

 with whom we have been (however distantly) 

 associated. Oh — no ! We are not rich, — far 

 from it. Our purse is consumptive, — very, 

 but our heart lies at the bottom of it ; and 

 thus, somehow or other, do we always contrive 

 to find something to go on with. Odd, too, 

 is it, but religiously true, — that in propor- 

 tion to the little good it has been in our 

 power to dispense to others, in an increasing 



* These people, who boast so of having kept 

 their purse-strings undrawn during the late in- 

 clement season — and who glory in their having 

 " done" all applicants out of their Christmas gra- 

 tuities, are of kin to those wretches who, having 

 travelled in an omnibus from the City nearly to 

 the end of their journey, yet refuse to pay, 

 because the poor horses cannot stand upon the 

 brow of a slippery hill, or safely proceed beyond a 

 certain distance ! We have seen many of these 

 liberal-minded worthies ; and have not failed to 

 " open" upon them as they deserved. — Ed. K. J. 



ratio have we been ourself benefited ! And 

 how soundly we have slept ! How pleasantly 

 the days and evenings have passed ! What 

 delight have we found in those little inter- 

 changes of love and affection which make 

 this world such a perfect Paradise ! 



The readers of Our Journal are so select, 

 and their minds so refined, that we feel quite 

 sure they understand what we are speaking 

 of; and not only understand it, but enjoy it. 

 w Little things," as we have recently re- 

 marked, are the very lungs of our existence. 

 They make up, collectively, all we know — or 

 can know, of human happiness. 



This brings us to the real object of the 

 present Paper, which is to record, with feel- 

 ings of gratitude, the large share of " Little 

 Kindnesses" that has again been showered 

 upon our head; — as an "annual custom." 

 May that custom never be discontinued ! 



It would be idle, — nay hardly possible, for 

 us to go into detail about the many offerings 

 of love and friendship that have reached us 

 from all parts of the country, — both from 

 those who have seen us and love us, and 

 from those who, not having yet seen us, 

 nevertheless love us dearly. Day after day, 

 hour after hour, — as the old year waned 

 and whilst its successor was preparing to 

 greet us with all due honor — did the Post, 

 Rail, or private Messenger bring some tribute 

 of affectionate remembrance for " Our 

 Editor." To note, too, the taste of the 

 selections, — so varied ; so useful ; so orna- 

 mental ; and some, so savory — so provoking 

 to the appetite ! 



Then the packing ! What a number of dear, 

 delicate fingers,* and ambling little feet must 

 have been at work for us ! And with what 

 extreme care and precision was every sepa- 

 rate article laid side by side with its fellow 

 companion ! How readily can we enter into 

 the feelings of each one of our guardian 

 angels, as they first set them out, — then 

 arranged them ; and finally completed the 

 nailing and fastening of those pretty, attrac- 

 tive, and well-stored boxes, destined to re- 

 joice our old but ever tender heart ! We 

 see the crowd of smiling faces now. Oh — yes ! 



We can imagine nothing on earth more 

 delightful than the reciprocating of " Little 

 Kindnesses." Never mind the estimated 

 value in £, s. d. The idea of such a thing is 

 monstrous. What the heart bestows lovingly, 

 is priceless. Some people are most pleased 

 when they receive presents ; and care little 

 about sending them. Such are not in our 



* There was not wanting, among the rest, the 

 well-known, beautiful direction, by the fair little 

 hand of which we took special notice in our 

 Third Volume, page 7. Time has since revealed 

 the owner of that fair hand ; and we accept her 

 annual tribute of kindness with the most sincere 

 pleasure. — Ed. K. J. 



Vol. V.— 2. 



