The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1855-07-31
The Beauty of Cheerfulncss.
" Is it not worse than vain to close our eyes
Upon the azure sky and golden light
Because the tempest cloud doth sometimes RISE


Upon the azure sky and golden light,
Because the tempest.cloud doth sometimes rise,
And glorious day must darkcn into nlght?"
1t is sad thing to be pcevish, tretful and dis
contented. There arc times and Seasons when
it is almost impossible to rally remarkable
flow OF spirits, even when there is apparently
little or no cause for despondency But these
with the great majority of the human 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 ii the morning out Of humor, not only
with themselves. but with all mankind and
wherever they appear, or in whatever circle they
chill, discourage and. rcpulsc They permit
themselves to indulge in idle jealousies, foolish
fears and vague apprehensions, aud even if pros
porous for the present, they predict some sad
calamity in the future. and thus prove them
selves morbidly infrm, and, in fact, insensiblc
to the blessings Of Providence The effect is
not only to distress themselves, but to annoy
and disquet others They cast a gloom over
everything for the moment, and serve to drive
away the sunny influences which are SO admira
bly, calculated to brighten the pathway Of life.
In what happy contrast il the CHEERFUL SPIRIT
the individual whose heart is full of kindness
and generosity, who is ever ready to say = good
word or to do benevolent act, and whose daily
life may be Iikened to a constan: beam of sun.
shine He may be disturbed and depressed
for the moment, but it will only be for the mo.
ment. A shadow may pass over his brow, and
silence may seal his lips, but his natural buoyan-
cy will soon acquire the ascendant, and his
Joyous laugh and cheerful smile will soon be
heard and seen again. II be cannot say any.
thing kindly or complimentary, he has the good
sense and manly feeling 10 keep his peace. If
be cannot rraise he will not blame. Scandal has
10 charms for him, and malignity is utterly for
eign to his disposition. He constantly tries to
gladden. and encourage, to cheer the dcspondlng
and unfortunate, 10 assist aud relieve to the ex.
tent Of his ability. The head of household, or
the master-spirit Of an extensive establishment,
possesses, to considerable extent, the means
Of making or marring the comfort and happ-
ness Of all who look up To, depend upon, or
feel the exercise Of his influence. Imagine a
peevish, freful and dissatisfied individual under
these circumstances His very appearance
creates shadde,, for he is certain to say some
thing harsh, cold or uuciviI, and thus to irrtate
feelings, trample upon sensiblilic., or stimulate
prejudices and passions. lie is miserable himself,
and according to the old adage, misery loves com.
panv lie moves about like troubled spirit,
and instead Of smile, a cheering word an en-
couraging look frown, rebuke or grumble
are certain to characterize his progress. How
much better the gentler, the miIder, the more
generous policy How beautiful are cheerful
ness, benevovnce and appreciation under these
circumstances In the one case, the heart
shrinks back, the feelings revolt, and the sympa-
lhies turn away; while in the other, the cheek
ghws with pleasure, the fountains of emotion
are filled to oyerfowing, and cordial welcome
and an involuntary blessing, are sure to attend,
like invisible angels, the coming and the pre-
scrce of the cheerful, tho kind d.hearted, the
approaching and the good.--Phl. Inquirer