6

THE QUEST OF ANCESTORS.

"Of all the notable things on earth,
The queerest one is pride of birth."

A few years ago a well-known Bostonian, the descendant of an honored
family, began the ancestral quest with expert assistance. All went merry
as a marriage bell for a time, when suddenly he unearthed an unsavory
scandal that concerned one of his progenitors. Feeling a responsibility
for the misdeeds of his great-grandfather, he ordered all investigation
stopped, and the disagreeable data destroyed; but he had delved too far.
His genealogist had told a friend, and the secret was out beyond recall.

--_D. O. S. Lowell._

67

MERIT FROM ANCESTORS.

Were honor to be scann'd by long descent
From ancestors illustrious, I could vaunt
A lineage of the greatest; and recount,
Among my fathers, names of ancient story,
Heroes and god-like patriots, who subdu'd
The world by arms and virtue.
But that be their own praise;
Nor will I borrow merit from the dead,
Myself an undeserver.

--_Rowe._

68

He who constantly boasts of his ancestors, confesses that he has no
virtue of his own.

--_Charron._

69

Never mind who was your grandfather. What are you?

70

A good man's anger lasts an instant,
A meddling man's for two hours,
A base man's a day and night,
A great sinner's until death.

--_Persian._

71

Have nothing to do with men in a passion, for they are not like iron, to
be wrought on when they are hot.

72

Anger generally begins with folly, and ends with repentance.

--_Pythagoras._

73

He who subdues his anger, conquers his greatest enemy.

74

A fit of anger is as fatal to dignity as a dose of arsenic to life.

--_J. G. Holland._

75

It is much better to reprove, than to be angry secretly.

76

Catch not too soon at an offence, nor give too easy way to anger; the
one shows a weak judgment, the other a perverse nature.

77

He who can suppress a moment's anger, may prevent a day of sorrows.

78

Nothing can be more unjust, or ridiculous, than to be angry with others
because they are not of our opinion.