New-York daily tribune., 1843-11-04
From the Democratic Review
SLYDER DOWNEHYLLE:
SEARCH AFTER HAPPINE ESS.
BY JOSEPH C. NEAL,
o,,Lor ofu Charcoal SkpfcheS,"


CHOW happy III be be tomorrow" !" exclaimed
little Slyder Dowhehylle in anticipation of Chnst-
mas; sob, how happy shall be tomorrow :"
"Couldn't you contrlve to be happy little
now 2" replied Uncle John,who had learned some
what to dstrust anticipation and its gorgeous
promises.
"Happy now, Uncle John ~ retorted little Sly
der Downehylle, rather contemptuously. "happy
now what with, should like to know-what
shall be happy with-now Where's the candy,
the cakes, the pies-where is the hobby-horse
that somebody's going to give me-and all the
Christmast gifts How wish tomorrow had
come-what long day-what long evening
what great while I've got to sleep!'
Little Slyder Downehylle became quite cross,
and Uncle John whistled. Twenty-four hours
afterwards, little Slyder Downehylle was still more
cyoss--he had been happy with candy,with cakes
and with pies, until he was very uncomfortable
indeed he had been happy with toys, until he
had uuarreled with his little companions and
stewed the room with broken playthlngs; he had
been happy with his hobby horse, until ne got
fall
"0h what stupid day. said little Slyder
Downehylle, 81 wish tomorrow would come-lll
be so happy at aunt Betsey's."
1t is unnecessary to inrude at aunt Betsey's,
for the events there were of q character strongly
resembling what had already occurred. Little
Slyder Downehylle went to bed in tears.
twas always so with the unfortunate Slyder
Downehylle Throughout life, he wanted some
thing to be happy with; and, strangely enough,
it universally occurred that when he had obtained
the thing, it did not prove to be exactly the thing
no ),ye
and he was therefore, constantly in a state of
It was dcplorable too that such should be the
ease for Slyder Downehyllc was anxious to be
happy-he was always looking forward to be
aappy-for something "to be happy with He
never got up in the morning but that 1t was his
resolve to be happy in the attcrnoon-and, If not
successful in accomplishing his purpose at that
time, he endeavored as far as possible to retrieve
The failure by forming similar determination for
ae evening" No one ever had greater variety
Of schemes for living happy-very happy-than
&; for living happy next week, for living happy
next month, or next year but it appeared to him
that malignant fate was sure to interfere, in Or
Der that his projects might be frustrated. At
school, he was always thinking how happy he
would be on Saturday afternoon; but then some
enes 1t rained on Saturday afternoon, or his CON-
pamons would not do as he wished them to do on
Saturday afternoon, or it may be that although he
aso olled hard for the pleasure on Saturday after
noon, and the toll for pleasure is often the severest
work, he returned home weary dispirted and
WI OF temper. Of course it was unavoidable
aat his pleasure should be postponed until some
"ae' Saturday afternoon. And it was even so
WIN ssl the larger holidays They never were ex-
sc'4y what they ought to have been-what they
pomsed to be-what they seemed to be, when
viewed from distance. If Slyder Downehylle
eS went a-hshing, why a treacherous bank would
pifh v give way, and then-pray who can possibly
Se happy when dripping wet, with his clothes on
NOBODY but poodles. What felicity is there in
pS'ng ones shoe in a swamp? Who is perfectly
coappy when securing across the plain, like swift
vanilla, !" with old jenkins big dog-that dog
ttways bltes-rus,ic dogs do-foowlng close at
ss heels, widely opening mouth when showed
20 need of the dentist? Then, ii slyder Downe,
syi!e went skating, it not unfrequently happened
sla' ne cried with cold,-what strange arrange
aeft It Is not to have the best Of skating on the
Earnest days. At other seasons, there was the
S'. Is II never rains but it pours, in this world.
- " happiness, think ye to have ones dear little
M.0Se-lncipient ~ Roman, or determined pug, as
s 'ls case may be-all Of blister. and have ones
SV'ectabtc eosn.enance az red and as hot as a