Be Courteous

Be Courteous (or, Religion, the
True Refiner)

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Title: Be Courteous
Author: Mrs. M. H. Maxwell
Release Date: December, 2005 [EBook #9402] [This file was first
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BE COURTEOUS:
OR,
RELIGION THE TRUE REFINER.
BY MRS. M. H. MAXWELL.

[Illustration: MARY AND THE SICK CHILD--SEE PAGE 56.]

PREFACE.
The scenes and characters of this story are those once familiar to the
writer. The story itself is but a disconnected diary of one who, early
refined from earthly dross, lived only long enough to show us that there
was both reason and divine authority in the words of an apostle, when
he exhorted Christians to "Be Courteous."

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I
.
THE PLAIN--THE ISOLATED DWELLING--BLUE-BERRY
PARTY--TAKING A VOTE--TREATMENT OF NEW
ACQUAINTANCES--THE FAMILY AT APPLEDALE--THE
YOUNG PEOPLE UPON THE PLAIN----SINCERE MILK OF THE
WORD--A CALL AT THE LOG-HOUSE--THE RIDE
HOME--ORIGINAL POETRY
CHAPTER II

.
THE KIND "GOOD-MORNING "--THE HIGH
HILL--UNEXPECTED MEETING--ROMANCE AND
REALITY--THE GOOD FARMER--IMPRESSIONS OF
CHILDHOOD--WORSHIPING-- BEARING THE CROSS
CHAPTER III
THE POOR WOMAN OF THE PLAIN--THE NOTE--MOURNFUL
MUSINGS--THE CUP OF TEA--THE STRUGGLE--CHARITY AND
SELF--EMMA'S HISTORY
CHAPTER IV
.
THE LITTLE TIME--HOW IMPROVED--FITNESS FOR REFINED
SOCIETY--MORNING REFLECTIONS--RUTH AND
BOAZ--CHARITY AND COURTESY--THE VISIT
CHAPTER V
.
THE OLD PEDDLER--BITTER WORDS--THE MEEK REPLY--THE
EFFECT--ACTING A PART--SOFTER FEELINGS--THE
DEATH-SCENE--THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS--SIMPLE
CHRISTIAN COURTESY

BE COURTEOUS:
OR,
RELIGION THE TRUE REFINER.

CHAPTER I
.
THE PLAIN--THE ISOLATED DWELLING--BLUE-BERRY
PARTY--TAKING A VOTE--TREATMENT OF NEW
ACQUAINTANCES--THE FAMILY AT APPLEDALE--THE
YOUNG PEOPLE UPON THE PLAIN--SINCERE MILK OF THE

WORD--A CALL AT THE LOG-HOUSE--THE RIDE
HOME--ORIGINAL POETRY.
Not more than a mile and a half from a pleasant village in one of our
eastern States is a plain, extending many miles, and terminated on the
north by a widespread pond. A narrow road runs across the plain; but
the line of green grass bordering the "wheel-track" upon either side,
shows that though the nearest, this road is not the most frequented way
to the pond. Many reasons might be assigned for this. There is a
wearisome monotony in the scenery along this plain. There are no hills,
and but few trees to diversify the almost interminable prospect,
stretching east, west, north, and south, like a broad ocean, without wave
or ripple. The few trees scattered here and there stand alone, casting
long shadows over the plain at nightfall, and adding solemnity to the
mysterious stillness of that isolated place. It is not a place for human
habitation, for the soil is sandy and sterile; neither is it a place for
human hearts, so desolate in winter, and so unsheltered and dry during
the long warm summer. Yet midway between the village and the pond
was once a house, standing with its back turned unceremoniously upon
the narrow road with its border of green. It was a poor thing to be
called a house. Its front door was made, as it seemed, without reference
to anything, for it opened upon the broad ocean-like plain. No
questions had been asked relative to a title-deed of the land upon which
that house stood, or whether "poor Graffam" had a right to pile up logs
in the middle of that plain, and under them to hide a family of six.
Through many a long eastern winter that family had lived there, little
known, and little cared for. Nobody had taken the pains to go on
purpose to see them; yet, during the month of July, and a part of August,
some of the family were often seen. At all times of the year, in
summer's heat and in winter's snow, the children going and returning
from school, were wont to meet "poor Graffam," a short man, with
sandy