Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-06-24
HAPPINESS.

Ol uOuOTS, ulSlllCtlOnS, titlcs' UNIV, aiS
happy 4! Still greater is the disappoint-
meut of those who think 10 find happi-
ness in II round of pleasure. They soon
become stated with enjoymeuts from this
source, and find themselves, like a jaded
traveller after a long days journey, the
very reverse of happy. There are GER
tain conditions without which happiness
cannot be expected /; prominent among
these arc good health, a temperament
prone to cheerfulness, and an exercise
Of the affections by means of the better
sentiments of Il nature. But, even
with the possession Of these qualities,
what continual fluctuations in the mea-
sure Of quantity how frequent the
changes in the barometer Of our moral
atmosphere! Happiness eludes an ac-
tive chase it obeys no command, but
often comes to US %uubidden, provided
that we do not take pains to drive
it away by yielding to a habit OF u
muriugs, repiniugS and discomfort.
Happiness will, if we earnestly desire 1t,
come to US by a reflex operation, and
be obtained for ourselves by our
endeayors TO confer it upon others.
To q certain extent it may be made to
grow out of education, by children be-
ing taught thankfully to appreciate
minor comforts and indulgences, and to
exercise patience under the little crosses
which they may encounter even in their
daily sports. OF all things, q check
should at once be put on a beginning
inclination to be dissatisfied, and to re-
pine at not being partakers of the bene-
fits of fortune and the Of the sup
posed enjoyment Of those who are more
wealthy or prosperous and elevated in
the social scale than we are ourselves.
The man actively and usefully occupied
has seldom any time or inclination TO
indulge in discomfort at his own condi-
ton. He leaves it to others TO exag-
gerate the misery Of mankind, as II 1t
gave them larger companionship and
consolation, not knowing, perhaps, that
they are yielding themselves to II spe-
cies of impiety, by casting obliquely a
reflection on the beuefceuce Of the
Deity. There are some unhappy ma
lures with a constitutional faint, u fer
meut of the humors, which keeps them
in a state Of perpetual suspicion and
mistrust of the intentions Of others, and
banishes not only happiness, but con-
tent, from their hearts. The higher the
station, and the greater the power of
such persons, the more gloomy and dis
satisfied they become, aud the harsher
in their judgments aud the more vim
dictive in their revenge or all who
,hwart in any way their plans. To this
class belong STYLUS Tiberius, Louis NJ.
of France, and Phillip II. Of Spain. The
sons of genius often find II large meas
ure Of happiness in the exercise OF their
inventive faculties, and in the ''thick-
coming fancies" to which they give
form and expression iu the works Of the
pencil and chisel, and still more in the
outpourings of melody and song. 1t
must have been under such genial infu-
ences that Hogg, "the Ettrick Shep-
herd" farmer, grazier as we'll as lay
preacher, could, Notwithstanding the
keen "reminiscences Of his early life Of
toll aud hardship, aud the extremes Of
poverty, and always being in ~pecuuiary
difficulties, assert his having always en-
joyed happiness. His married life
was uniformly smooth and happy"
Hogg, in one Of his Lay Sermons
gives a clue to the apparent mystery of
his happiness. He never repined, and
always rejoiced in the prosperity of his
friends-never envied ny man his hap
piness, nor Intentionally did evil to any
living soul. He was always ready to
oblige others as far as his limited OPP
%portunities would allow, and he was not
only satisfied, but grateful to the Giyer
ofall good for his sublunary blessings
the highest Of all to a grateful heart
that enjoys them. In 6ue--and this is
moro than half possession of happiness
he always accustomed himself to think
more Of what he had than Of what he
wanted.