What trifling things often give rise to serious quarrels. A hasty word, in a moment of anger, or an imprudent act in a moment of thoughtlessness, have often separated bosom friends. Law-suits, street fights, and duels, have often sprung from the most insignificant causes. A little stubbornness in admitting oneself to be mistaken, unwillingness to ask a neighbor's pardon when we are evidently in the wrong, have frequently given rise to serious troubles.

In conversation one day with a friend, he told me the following anecdote: "I once owned a large flock of fowls. I usually kept them shut up; but one day I concluded to let them run in the yard, after I had clipped their wings, so that they could not fly.

On coming home to dinner, I learned that one of my neighbors had been there, full of wrath, to let me know that my hens had been in his garden, and that he had killed some of them, and had thrown them over into my yard. I was greatly enraged, because he had killed my beautiful fowls, that I valued so much, and I determined to have revenge. I would shoot him on the spot, or I would at least sue him for damages. I thought however, that I would first sit down and eat my dinner. But by the time I had finished my meal, I felt more cool, and concluded that perhaps I had better not fight with my neighbor about a few hens, and thereby make him my bitter enemy. I concluded that I would walk over and see him. On going over, I found him in his garden, in hot pursuit of one of my hens, with a club in his hand, and his face red with rage. I addressed him in a kind manner. He turned upon me with an inflamed look, and broke out in great fury: "You have abused me, sir. I will kill all your hens, and you too, if you do not take care. My garden is mine."

"I am very sorry for it, (said I,) I did not wish to injure you, and I now deeply regret having let my hens out of the coop. I ask your forgiveness, and am willing to pay you six times the damage."

The man seemed confounded. He did not know what to make of it. He looked up to the sky--then down to the ground--then at his club--then at me, and then at the hen he had been chasing, and stood still and seemed unable to say a word.

"Tell me (said I) what is the damage, and I will pay you sixfold, and my hens shall trouble you no more, I will leave-it entirely to you what I must pay. I cannot afford to lose the good will of my neighbors and quarrel with them, for hens, or anything else."

"I am a great fool, (said my neighbor) the damage is not worth talking about. I ask your pardon for what I said, and I respect you now more than ever. Your mildness has cooled me down, and let us drop the matter forever."