The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-09-07
THE BEAUTY OF CHEERFULNEss
ais IL not verse than vain to close our eyes.
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And glorious day must darken into niyhtih
1t is a sad thing to be peevish, fretful and
discontented. There are times and seasons
when it is almost impossible 20 rally re-
markable flow of spirits, even when there is
apparently little or no cause for despondency.
But these, with the great majority of the 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 humor, not only with them
| selves, but all mankind; and wherever they
appear, or in whatever circle they have power
or influence, they chill, discourage and re-
pulse. They permit themselves 10 indulge in
idle jealousies, foolish fears and vague appre-
tensions; and even if prosperous for the
present, they predict some sad calamity in the
future, and thus prove themselves morbidly
infrm, and in fact, insensible to the blessings
of Providence. The effect is not only to dis
tress themselves, but to annoy and disquiet
others They are in the moral world, what
a passing cloud is in the physical. They cast
gloom over everything for the moment, and
serve to drive away the sunny influences
which are SO admirably calculated to brighten
the pathway of life. In what happy contrast
is the cheerful Spirit-the individual whose
heart is full of kindness and generosity, who
is ever ready to say a good word, or to do a
benevolent act, and whose daily life may be
llkened to a constant beam of sunshine? He
may be disturbed and depressed for the mo-
ment, but it will'only be for moment A
shadow may pass over his brow, and silence
may seal his lips, hut his natural buoyancy
will soon acquire the ascendant and his Joyous
and seen again. If he cannot say anything
complimentary, he has the good sense and
manly feeling to keep his peace.-lf he can
not praise he will not blame. Scandal has no
charms for him, and malignity is utterly for
eign to his disposition. He constantly " tries TO
gladden. and encourage, to cheer the despond-
ing and unfortunate, to assist and relieve to
the extent of his ability. The head of house.
hold, or the masterspirit of an establishment,
possesses, to considerable extent, the means
of making or marng the comfort and happi-
ness Of all who look up to, depend upon, or
feel the exercise of his influenced Imagine n
peevlsli, iretiul and dissatisfied individual un-
der these circumstances! llisvery appearance
creates a shudder, for he is certain to say
something harsh, cold or uncivil, and, thus to
irritate feelings, trample upon sensibiliies, or
prejudices and passion. He is mis-
cradle himscIfand, according to the old adage, |
misery loves company. He moves about
like troubled spirit, and instead Of smile,
n cheering word and an encouraging look,
frown, a rebuke or grumble are certain to
characterize his progress. How much better
the gentler, milder, the generous policy! How
beautiful are cheerfuIness, benevolence and
appreciation under these circumstances; in the
one case, the heart shrinks back, the feelings
revolt, aud the sympathies turn awny, while
in the other, the cheek gows with pleasure,
The fountains of emotion are filled to over.
lowing, and cordial welcome and an nvol-
lntary blessing, are sure to attend, like in
visible angels, the coming and the presence of
The cheerful, the kind.hearted, the appreciat-
ng and the good.