Grumbling is a habit that grows quickly and with very little encouragement, and those who go in for it must make up their minds to have to do with very few friends.

For who would consent to be the friend of a growler?
It would be as bad as becoming the servant of a man who kept an electrical machine--he would always be trying it on you! And he must be content also to find that very few people sympathise with him.

For when a man is a confirmed grumbler at everything, no one afflicts himself much about his lamentations, but puts it all down to his infirmity.
"Poor fellow, his digestion isn't good, or his liver's out of order!" they will say, and think no more about it.
Growler of our school was an able fellow in his way; and successful, too, but he wasn't liked.

Some were afraid of him, some detested him, and most cared very little about him.

I don't suppose he will ever do much good in the world, for this reason--his influence is so small.