Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-11-20
pATRoNs PAY AID PosTAcE.
ONE SECRET OF A.IIAPPY LIFE

ONE SECRET OF A;llaIfi ~ II ~
We were in company the o,herdoy,
says the Youih'sPenny Gazette, with
a gentleman apparently fifty or sixty
years of age, who used in substance
the following language: 81
We're i to live my life over again,
should make it a point todo' kind,
ness to q fellow-being wheneyerlshad
the opportunity. i regretyery much r1
that iImyhabit .has been SO different,
und. that Ihave induced feelings as
unlike those which would lead ,tolsuch
a course of life.
1t has been too much my waytoslet
others take care of themselves while
/ took care of myself If some little
trespass was committed on my rights,
or il. l suffered some slight inconye-
nience from tho ,houghtlessness or
selfishness of others, | was greatly
annoyed, and sometimes used harsh
and reproachful language towards the
offender.
lam now satisfied that my ownhap-
piness was greatly impaired by this
course, and that my conduct and ex-
ample contributed to the irritation
and unhappiness Of others.
It was but the other day, continued
the gentleman, that was passing a.
long the street, and coachman was
attempting to draw a light carriage
into the coach.house. Hetried once :
or twice without success, and just as
l came up the carriage occupied the
whole Of the sidewalk, and prevented
my passing. The fellow looked as if
it ought not to be exactly SO, and there
was something like faint apology in
his smile. 1t was on my tongue to
say, "In with your carriage, man!
and not letit stand here blocking up
the passage" Buta better influence
prevailed. Invent to the rear of tho
carriage and said
Now, try again, my good fellow!"
while with the end Of my umbrella
| 1 gave a little push, and in the car
|riage went, and out came the pleasant
"Thank ye, sir-much obliged" I
would not have taken a twenty-dollar
bank note for the streak Of sunshine
that this one little act of kindness
threw over the rest of my walk, tosay
nothing of the lighting up Of the
coachman's face.
And when l look back upon my in.
tercourse with myIfellow men all tho
way along,I can confidently say that
never did Kindness to any human
being without being happier for it
So that if l were governed by mere
selfish motives, and wanted to live the
happiest life l could,I would just
simply obey the Bible precept to do
good unto all men as l had opportu-
nifty. ' .. #a. Ts sa ~
All this was said with an air of sim
cerity and deep conviction which we
cannot give to our report of it. And
does the experience of the youngest
of our readers confirm or contradict
the statementl Is there boy or q
girl among them who can say, "Idid
n kind act once to my brother, or Sis
ter, or playmate, and l was afterwards
sorry for it. | should have been hap.
pier if it had been an unkind one."-
tits very likely that kind act has
been ill-requited or misconstrued; but
if it was performed with proper feel
ings, it is as certain to produce happi-
ness assunshine is to produce warmth
We counsel our young friends, then,
to seize every opportunity of contrib
uting to the good Of others. Some
times smile will do it. Oftcner, a
kind word-a look Of sympathy or an
acknowledgement Of 7obligation..-
Sometimes a little help to a bnrdencl
shoulder or a heavy wheel, will be in
place. Sometimes word or two Of
good counsel, a seasonable and gentle
admoni,ion, and at others a sugges-
ton of advantage to be gained, and n
little interest to secure it, will be re-
ceived with lasting gratitude. And
thus every instance Of kindness done.
whether acknowledged Or not, opens
up a little well-spring of happiness in
the doer's own breast, the flow Of
which may be made permanent by
habit. ..#
| III. ~. Ial:na upa.a