The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-02-06


of the amazing importance of th:s.quallty TO her
own happiness, as well as to that of others.
DR.. Salgues, professor to the Institute of
France has the following excellent remarks on
the importance of what he calls gaety, but which
answers exactly to what we call cheer!ulness:-
cit u.s." sayshe, "he best preservation against anX-
ety and grief, it is the golden panacea, the secret
Of longevity, the elixir of life" And in another
place he adds, "Joy and gaicty give activity to
Transportation, render digestion easier and better,
sleep more regular and refreshing, the cure OF
sickness easier the period OF conValescencc
shorter and life ilselflonger."
This is the importance of cheeriulncsS III gem
era. But its peculiar importance to The wife can
best be seen by observing those families where it
is wanting. Unhappily, they are so numerous
that we need not 90 very far for the purpose.
Irecollect most distinctly family of this pain
full description, not hundred miles from the place
of my nativity.
1t was small family, in moderate, though not
affiuent circumstances, and surrounded by most
of those eXternals which are calculated to make
| life delightful. Yet cheeriulness was only an
occasional visitor there-seldom or never an in
mate.
The father laborcd like a galley slave, to nlnass
property, and almost always came home from ms
labor fatigucd and detected never smiling or
happy. The mother, born, as it seemed, to per-
petual sullenness and gloom, did nothing course
to cheer his spirits. Not sprightly word or
cheering look was ever transmitted from the one
TO the other, except on extraordinary occasions,
as on the arrival of some friendly visitor. More
than this, the countcnanco OF the mother usual
" wore frown, even in her happicSt moments.
In this sad condition things went OH for many
years. A family o3tlree children were in the
mean time rising to maturity, and their character
for time and for eternity forming under such
wolul influences. They were at length fairly on
the stage of life and actors in ifo's busy scenes.
And what were their tempers and dispositions!
Two of them are far from being cheerful and
happy. Nor were they happy in their youth tor
they were often melancholic IN the mdst OF the
gayest companions. Some Of them already have
raised families Of their own, among whom they
are spreading, by gloomy countenances, the same
unhappy Influences to which themselves, i'll ear
| ~ life had been subjected.
| In my youth had OCCASION to spend few
,ays in the cherries family oSwhch have been
speaking. AS was mere. boy, there was prob
ably no effort appear differently from what was
usual in the family; and therefore rad tine
opportunity to see things as they were.
believe was in the family four days. Yet
during this whole time, never heard pleasant
voice, or saw kind countenunce OF Il irienu!y
smile, except IN Il single instance. The father
was detected the mother was irritable; the
daughters were peevish and gloomy; the SONS was
disseminated and unhappy.
There was no cord of love and union there
The father never sat down, in the midst ola
happy family, nor formed the hero Ola circle
around the freside. If he had moments leis-
urc, he was at the ''sore," or the "corner" in the
midst of other and sometimes more uniaVorable
influences.
Now when reflect upon the circumstances
ofthis group of relavcs-for will not call it
family feel good degree of confidence that
maternal kindness would have prevented all this.
Not through the medium of occasional smiles or
acts of kindness but by an uninterrupted series
of those looks and acts that make their impression
on the heart, and mperceptibly, though etfectu-
ally, win it.
Abbott, in his "Pah of Peace" describes this
state of things as if he too, like myself had been
an eye witness TO it. Speaking of the want OF
cheerfulness, and its sad effects upon the husband
he thus observes:
"When, wearied and excited by the harrass-
ments of the day, your husband has returned to
his home, he has not been met with a smile of
welcome, and placid heart The parlor is in
a clutter, the children are neglected, his wife
is tretiul. Love, even the most pure and the
most iervent, cannot long survive such encoun-
ters. The tarvern-keeper will bid him wei
come. He will have the little snug parlor, for
the whist party, neat and in order, and his asso-
cates will be careful to avoid offence They will
greet him with the open hand and the smiling
brow. Is it strange, that man who is not gov
erned by christian principles, should under such
circumstances, forget his wife and forsako his
home ? Is it strange that he should live with
those who are careful to minister to his pleas
UreS ?"
He also gives the following excellent advice:
"Cultivate cheerful spirit. Cheefulness is
the twin sister of gratitude. They are born to-
gethcr They walk hand in hand through life,
and the death of one breaks the heart of the 9th
en- Gratitude is The homage which the heart
gives to God for his goodness. Cheerulness is
the external manifestation Of this praise"
have said that the importance of cheerfulness
in wife could best be shown, by exhibiting the
evils which flow from want of it, But it may
also be shown by examples Of the contrary de-
scriptioD. [ will present one.
| Alexis is day laborer. He was originally IN
dolent but the wants of a family, beginning to be
felt, have aroused him. He now labors inces-
sanity, and abors hard.
In all bis efforts, he is seconded and sustained,
by his wife. 1t is true she'wasa little dsappont-
ed in her expectations in regard to his circum-
stances. AS he was the son of Il weathyarmer,
she thought he would receive that aid from his
! father, which would at least render their circum-