2865. FAMILY, Complications in.—
If
the lady has anything difficult in her disposition,
avoid what is rough, and attach her
good qualities to you. [186]
Consider what are
otherwise as a bad stop in your harpsichord,
and do not touch on it, but make yourself
happy with the good ones. Every human
being must thus be viewed, according to what
it is good for; for none of us, no not one, is
perfect; and were we to love none who had
imperfections, this world would be a desert
for our love. All we can do is to make the
best of our friends, love and cherish what
is good in them, and keep out of the way of
what is bad; but no more think of rejecting
them for it, than of throwing away a piece of
music for a flat passage or two. Your situation
will require peculiar attentions and respect
to both parties. Let no proof be too
much for either your patience or acquiescence.
Be you the link of love, union, and peace
for the whole family. The world will give
you the more credit for it, in proportion to
the difficulty of the task, and your own happiness
will be the greater as you perceive that
you promote that of others.—
To Martha Jefferson Randolph.
D. L. J.187.
(N.Y.,
17901790)gt;
