The Benefit of bodily Pain.—Fortitude the Basis of Virtue.—The Folly of
Irresolution.
The children had been playing in the garden for some time, whilst Mrs.
Mason was reading alone. But she was suddenly alarmed by the cries of
Caroline, who ran into the room in great distress. Mary quickly
followed, and explaining the matter said, that her sister had
accidentally disturbed some wasps, who were terrified, and of course
stung her. Remedies were applied to assuage the pain; yet all the time
she uttered the loudest and most silly complaints, regardless of the
uneasiness she gave those who were exerting themselves to relieve her.
In a short time the smart abated, and then her friend thus addressed her,
with more than usual gravity. I am sorry to see a girl of your age weep
on account of bodily pain; it is a proof of a weak mind—a proof that you
cannot employ yourself about things of consequence. How often must I
tell you that the Most High is educating us for eternity?
‘The term virtue, comes from a word signifying strength. Fortitude of
mind is, therefore, the basis of every virtue, and virtue belongs to a
being, that is weak in its nature, and strong only in will and
resolution.’
Children early feel bodily pain, to habituate them to bear the conflicts
of the soul, when they become reasonable creatures. This, I say, is the
first trial, and I like to see that proper pride which strives to conceal
its sufferings. Those who, when young, weep if the least trifle annoys
them, will never, I fear, have sufficient strength of mind, to encounter
all the miseries that can afflict the body, rather than act meanly to
avoid them. Indeed, this seems to be the essential difference between a
great and a little mind: the former knows how to endure—whilst the latter
suffers an immortal soul to be depressed, lost in its abode; suffers the
inconveniences which attack the one to overwhelm the other. The soul
would always support the body, if its superiority was felt, and
invigorated by exercise. The Almighty, who never afflicts but to produce
some good end, first sends diseases to children to teach them patience
and fortitude; and when by degrees they have learned to bear them, they
have acquired some virtue.
In the same manner, cold or hunger, when accidentally encountered, are
not evils; they make _us feel what wretches feel_, and teach us to be
tender-hearted. Many of your fellow-creatures daily bear what you cannot
for a moment endure without complaint. Besides, another advantage arises
from it, after you have felt hunger, you will not be very anxious to
choose the particular kind of food that is to satisfy it. You will then
be freed from a frivolous care.
When it is necessary to take a nauseous draught, swallow it at once, and
do not make others sick whilst you are hesitating, though you know that
you ought to take it. If a tooth is to be drawn, or any other
disagreeable operation to be performed, determine resolutely that it
shall be done immediately; and debate not, when you clearly see the step
that you ought to take. If I see a child act in this way, I am ready to
embrace it, my soul yearns for it—I perceive the dawning of a character
that will be useful to society, as it prepares its soul for a nobler
field of action.
Believe me, it is the patient endurance of pain, that will enable you to
resist your passions; after you have borne bodily pain, you will have
firmness enough to sustain the still more excruciating agonies of the
mind. You will not, to banish momentary cares, plunge into dissipation,
nor to escape a present inconvenience, forget that you should hold fast
virtue as the only substantial good.
I should not value the affection of a person who would not bear pain and
hunger to serve me; nor is that benevolence warm, which shrinks from
encountering difficulties, when it is necessary, in order to be useful to
any fellow-creature.
There is a just pride, a noble ambition in some minds, that I greatly
admire. I have seen a little of it in Mary! for whilst she pities
others, she imagines that she could bear their inconveniences herself;
and she seems to feel more uneasiness, when she observes the sufferings
of others, than I could ever trace on her countenance under the immediate
pressure of pain.
Remember you are to bear patiently the infirmities of the weakest of your
fellow-creatures; but to yourselves you are not to be equally indulgent.