The Hickman courier., 1871-04-29
MISCELLANY.



Il there one happy man or woman on
the face of the earth2 No, for.it isinpos
sibie that any one should be completely
happy. The conditions of happiness are
neither known nor settled. Some place
Tin. wealth, some place it in poverty.
some aver that il exists only in the realms
Of piety and religion. Some say it re-
sides but in that middle state of compe-
fency, which is far removed from both
extremes of indigence and riches. 1t is
again owned that il is found alone in the
constant pursuits Of gain, and the conse-
quently constant exercise of hope, rather
than inactual enjoyment You will hear
one say. IF only had nice little farm.
how Independent and how happy l could
bel On the other hand, you will hear
the farmer complain Of his hard lot. of
unceasing toll aud care the year round.
and be will exclaim "W hat an easy time
you felix's have IN town, while have to
sndure sun and storm, aud go from morn
ing till night, you are sheltered from the
rain and the fierce heat of the sun.
have lice pavements to walk on, and get
What you want brought ready to your
door, what myself aud family consume
10 brought by hard licks out Of the
ground" In fact, we are always prone
to think every occupation easier than the
one we pursue.
The professional man confined to the
dust and dampness Of his office as be
pours over his ancient documents and
records rendered dim by time, sighs for
the open air and the green fields, and
eDvies the mechanic and the plowman.
Aad thinks their lot blessed one in com
parison to his own. The city belle, pale
sfrom the excitement and late hours OF the
last ball, covets the mantling bloom of
health that glows on the cheek of her
rural cousin, while the rural cousin on
TIE other hand, sighs for the attractions
Of city life. and would almost exchange
health aud its roseste bloom for the joys
and pastimes of that imagined paradise
which her fancy has created in that in
defnsble and never to be exactly located
region of eapth, called '.the fashionable
world" She comes to town. She is
initiated into the follies, the refnements.
iugs Of society. She is surrounded by
easy hammered we'll dressed admiring
besux. aud is. complimented. perhaps, by
jealous rivals. She learns what is called
she "style,p sthe mode,'' "the ton,
what is proper to say, and what is proper
not to say al certain times, and on certain
occasions when to be ..at home. and
when mot to be at home" when to.call,
and when not to call. when TO receive
calls, and when not receve them.
In short, she learns at length, themys
terry OF polite add refined society. But
still she sighs, sighs; it may be for the
;oyonf freedomfand the unrestrained
mothers Of country life She is not
happy. The shadows rest at times dark
~ on her brow, and the never ending
dream of human sorrow is still visitor
in the nansi4Hs of her heart. She weds
ard is she happy then2 No, with mar
risge greater cares and responsibilities
begin And then, after few years of
welded life. s&e looks back and sighs for
her "single blessedness."
The philosopher is as unhappy as the
fool. and the humorist that makes thou
sands laugh. is haunted By hypocondria
and prey to that very melancholy
which his quaint sayings haze driven
away from 30 many hearts. Even the
preacher, the saint. the holy man OF God
though wrapt in visions eff extstic and
eternal bliss beyond the grave, is rarely,
If ever. happy this side OF it.
They tell us that the best way to be
happy, is to be eoutent with our lot
Very true, but who is there on earth that
is cf7tent with his lot
Such thing as perfect happiness on
earth is unknown, and does not exist
The nearest approach to it Is found. in
my opinion, IN good health and useful
employment The health Of the body
has more to 10 with the harmony of the
mind. than Aany would suppose aud
chesrfulness and sunshine can sometimes
be brought sooner to the heart. by follow
ing the advise and prescriptions of aD in
tslns.nt physician, than by listening TO
the most learned snd elaborate disqui
sitions Of the theologian. Sound di
gsstior is apt to bring sound sleep. and
q proper amount Of sound sleep keeps all
the faculties OF the mind in harmonious
play, and produces that generally pleas
ing expression of countenance which
denotes the opposite of misery
LEAD PENN SULL.