Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-11-10
HOW TO BE HAPPY.

"Oh, am SO happy!' exclaimed a
little bright-oyed girl, one pleasant after
noon in carly summer, as she came boun-
ding towards me with all the frankness of
childhood.
For some time had been frequent
visitor at her house, and had always con-
sidsred her a remarkably light-hearted
and happy child. But her face was SO
radiant with JOY at thiu time, l concluded
the acquisition of some new toy must have
been tho cause. So playfully stroking
tho golden tresses that floated like so ma
ny .unbeams about her dimpled shoul-
ders, I inquired, And pray my child,
what is it that makes you 30 happy ?"
Her laughing eyes danced with JOY, as
she answered, Il have tried to be good
o-day, and practice sslf-denial, and ma
ma says, doing that will make me hap
py p"
"But," said almost doubling that one
so young could understand the meaning
of the word, what il self-denial do you
know its meaning 20
"Oh, yes, mamma tolls me it is giving
up something which We want to do or
have, because it 10 for the best, or will
please others"
"And have you been doing some act Of
kindness or self-denial, that makes you so
happy, nows" 1 inquired.
"Yes, 1 think have, she said: "but
you must not think l am vain littlegirl
for telling you .-for have heard mamma
say good people never go about telling
every pleasant act they do
Oh, no, said, al have asked you to
toll me, and I,hops my little friend is too
sensible to feel vain at all, because she
has performed only her duty, perhaps"
"Well. the other day, whom mamma
took little Willie out to ride with her to
see our little cousins, she promised me
when she went again she would take me-
And thi. afternoon was SO bright and
pleasant, she said she would give me my
promised ride. but rs friend of hers was
going too, little brother must stay at
home. Twas all ready to SO, and dres-
,sd so nice in my new hat that you trim
med so prettily, but going down tho gar
den walk, 1 met Willie crying bitterly be-
cause he was to be left. l ran to NAM
ma, and begged hsr to let him go in my
stead. She said l might if l wished, and
kissed me svestly, and looked at me so
kindly, that know she WAS pleased with
me-"
"And do you think you have enjoyed
yourself as we'll as though you had ia
ken the ride with your friends - l asked.
ooh yes, have had anice play in the
garden. and helped the gardener to wa
ter some of the pretty flowers, and L have
been so happy oil the while, thinking how
delighted little Willie will be when he
gets home, telling what he has seen, and
how much better he will love me for let
ting him GO
Just then the sound of wheels announ-
ced the approach of the carriage. and the
happy child bounded away to meet those
she loved.
1 could not help thinking to myself, if
this little one on the threshold of life,
could gain so much real enjoyment from
the performance of one good act, how
great a store of happiness we might gar
ner for ourselves, who are mingling in life s
busy scenes, and have so many opportu-
mites for practising self denial and doing
good to others. Oh ye, whose plastic
hearts are receiving Impressions for life,
beware how ye allow tho demon selfish
ness to rule over your young spirits. For
in after life you will learn by bitter expe-
rience, that he who lives only for self,
lives in vain But rather initiate the ex-
ample of this little girl, and learn from her
how to b e happy Ohre Branch: