Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-07-05
THE BEAUTY OF CHEERFULNEss.
'Is it not worse than vain n close ouI eyes
Upon the acre sky and golden night,

' ''ls III hot worse tnau vain u close our eyes
Upon the acre sky and golden night,
Because the tempest cloud doth sometime rise.
And glorious day must darken into night ~
1t is a sad thing to be peevish fretful
and diScontented. There are times and sea
sons when ii is almost impossible TO rally a
remarkable flow Of spirits, even when there is
apparently little or no cause for dependency.
But these, with the great majority ofthe hu-
man family, are, or should be, few and far
between. There are some persons who are
constantly making themselves unhappy, and
without reason. They see NOTHING but the
dark side OF life, and close Their eyes and
their hearts TO the bright They get up in the
morning out Of hriinor, not only with them
selves, but with al'rank tad and Whenever
they appear, or in whatever circle they have
power or influence, they chill, discourage and
repdlSe. THEY permit themselves 10 indulge
in idle jealouSieS, foolish fears and vague an
prehenSions, and even prosperous for the pies.
ent, they predict some sad calamity for The
future and thus p:oye themselves morbdIy in
firm, and, in fact, inSenSbIe to the blessings
Of Pfovidehce. The effect is not only to dis.
tress themselves, but 10 annoy and dsquiet
others. They are in the moral world, what
passing cloud is in the physical. They cast
gloom over everything for the moment and
serve to drive way the sammy influences which
are so admirably calculated to brighten the
pathway Of life. In what happy contrast is
the cHEERFTL sPlRfT--tbe individual whose
heart is full OF kicdneSs and generosity, who
is ever ready 10 say good word, or 10 do a
benevolent act, and whose daily life may be
lkened 10 constant beam OF sunshine He
may be disturbed and depressed for the mo-
tr1ent, but 1t will only be for a moment A
shadow may pass over his brow, and Silence
may Seal his TIPS, but his natural buoyancy
will soon acquire the ascendency, and his Joy
Gus laugh and cheerful smile will soon be
heard and seen again. II he cannot say any
thing kindly or complimentary he has the good
sense and manly feeling TO keep his peace -
If he caunot praise he will not blame. Scan
dat has no charms for him, and malignity is
utterly foreign 10 his disposition. He constant
ly fries to gladden. and encourage, TO cEeer
the cesponCing and unfortunate, to assist and
relieve TO the extent of his ability. The head
OF household, or maSter.spirit Of an exten-
slve establishment, possesses to considerable
extent, the means OF marring the comfort and
happiness ofall who look up 10, depend upon,
or feel the exercise of his influence. Imagine
a peevish, fretfu and dissatisfied individual
under these citcur,Stancesl His very appear
ance creates shudder for he is certain TO say
something harsh, cold or uncivil, and thus 10
irritate his feelings, trample upons ensiblites,
or stimulate preiudces and passions. He is
miserable himself, and according 10 The old
adage, misery loves company. He moves about
like tro1bled spirit, and instead of smile,
cheering word and an encouraging look, a
frown, Tebuke or gtumble are certain 10
6hafacterfze his progress. How hitch better
the gentler, the rhilder, the more generous pol,
icy! How beautiful are cheeriulness, benev-
olence and appreciation under these crcun
stances In the one case, the heart shrihks
back, the feelings revolt, and the sympathies
turn away while in the. other, the cheek
glows with pleasure, the fountains of emotion
are filed to overAowng, and a cordial well
come, and an involuntary blessing, are sure 10
attend, like invisible angels, the coming and
The presence ofthe cheerful, the kind hearted,
the appreciaiing and the good.--PMd. Ing.