Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-27
DEPARTUREs.
From the La Crosse (WiS. Democrat.
Happiness Attainable by All.

Walter, my boy the old chap who made
adages said, that a contented mind was con-
tinual feast He was very good adage ma
ker, my boy, but his style was much as would
be that of man who might give you a safe /
full of money and not tell how to unlock it, or /
as old Peddlertrap said when his wife ran away +
-.'good as far as she goes" The chief end
of man in one sense is the head-in the other
happiness. But very few men are happy, my
boy. That is, they are not happy to-day, but
expect the full measure of bliss tomorrow.
Tomorrow is great day, Walter. One to-
morrow has more of fear, or more of happi-
ness than all the to-days ever almanacd. We
all look for happIness-not in the present but
in the future-and, my boy, we are all wrong.
Happiness makes us enjoy life. We can all
be happy if we will. Care is the huge grind
stone which wears away. The knife does
not wear by use-it is by grinding Throw
care and fretting to the dogs. Now is the
time to be happy. What is the use of wait
ing till another day has broke?
allow can we help waiting"
Easy enough, my boy. Keep the heart
right. That is the first point If You a
man in trouble help him out if YOU can. if
not, don't get him in deeper If you are
tempted to do a mean act, stop and think how
it will belittle YOU. If YOU see trouble, allie
viate it. If you see man in danger, tell him
of it. Plant good seed-reap good crops.
Be kind to others Follow the golden rule as
far as practicable, then quit it. Make up
your mind to be happy-the rest is easy
enough. We have but very little real trouble.
Most of it is imaginary. We become nervous
and fretful, and weeds of care overrun the
entire heart, when they should not.
T tho ho rs
the blessings; not of the curses. Look on
your successes, not failures Thousands fail
any one can do that. but to succeed requires
man of pluck, muscle and ambition. So
long as we have health we should be happy.
And if sick we might be worse, my boy. If
we have but a dollar-we might have none.
/ If but one suit of clothes-we might be
/ hundred per cent worse off. If an eve has
been lost by accident, remember that the head
might have gone for all YOU could do. If in
battle, and cannon ball Just misses your
head, think how lucky that YOU were short.
Ii it passes between your legs-why its a
good thing to be tall If it goes through your
heart, lingering sickness and sorrowful
death-bed scene have been escaped. If YOU
have one friend left, that is better than TO
have none-if YOU have none, you will not be
betrayed, or YOU can make friends. There is
no man so mean but some one will love him.
Be happy IN thinking what YOU have-not in
what YOU want. Let envy 90 TO the wind.
Think how much better off YOU are than n
score who started in life with you. Think
how much better off than YOU might be- and
Walter. my boy, we cannot see how YOU can
help being happy. Don't let trihes worry
YOU. Keep a stiff upper lip. and close
lower one. The lower lip is the one YOU
should guard-it does the talking.
1t Is easy to be happy il YOU wish to be. my
boy. Gold watches. fast horses. iron fences.
monthly rows, Brussels carpets, rosewood
doors, marble top BUREAUS, fifteen story houses,
niggers at the gate to hold your horse, silver
napkin rings. squeaking shoes. poodle dogs.
wine supperS, palatial residences and such
gew-gawS, although nice to have, are not es-
sential to happiness any more than possessing
another mans wife or money Is essential to
happiness. Ii YOU are single. my hoy, YOU
can be happy in seeking some one to love YOU.
But don't be in too great haste to better Your
condition. Go slow. You will see more OF
. the country-msy ike it better A well
trained mind-a kind heart, will make every
. one happy If YOU have not these things. cui.
tivate them. Make a little heaven in your
heart, and see how nice il is. No matter
what others say of YOU. If they flatter try
and come up to their mark of adulation. Il
they condemn. give them no more reason-ii
they censure wrongtully. II Is blessed thing
TO know somebody besides you is being fooled
? Look around, my boy, and see if there is no
I some little spot where YOU can plant kline
Z word. 1t viii bring rich crop. See i
there is not some breeze passing which vii
e watt a kiss to one YOU love. See if there i
not place vacant where YOU can hide gooc
action. See if YOU cannot, by word, look o
deed, brighten the heart of some one wors,
off than yourself. Do these and be happy