Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-09-27
Happiness Makers.

nor an unimpor,aut business. As regard
good nature as one Of tbs richest fruits OF
true Christianity, 80 | regard the making OF
people round about US happy as one Of the
best manifestations Of that Christian disposi-
tion which we are commanded TO wear as
garment 10 our Lords own life, it is mani
fest that he did, day BY day, multitudes Of
things for the mere sake Of soothing trouble
Of calming irritation Of smoothing asperl-
ties OF producing amiable feelings. While
he instructed men, while be inspired them
with noble heroisms aud ambitions, his life
was also iledup with thousand small shades
of goodness, whose very nature il was TO make
men contented and happy
Sometimes men have thought that it was
useful for Christian to lay aside smiles aud
laughter and gaiety Nay nay Till the
world weeps less, think there should be
more smiles The world sorrows less, there
should be more gaiety. Till the world lives
better, there should be more Of the imaglna-
ton and Of refined taste thrown over the rude
forms Of sctuality in life. They should
count themselves sgnally blessed Of God who
are endowed with a nature so full Of pity,
and kindness, and love, aud Imagination, aud
taste, and music that they eau throw these
( 10Y bearing elements abundantly out Of them
selves, aud make the whole Of life around
them sweeter and truer and happier Blessed
are they to whom people 60 when they are
in distress Blessed are they around whom
/ little children Gock Blessed are they that
are sent for by men when they are in extrem-
tiles aud emergencies Blessed are they upon
whom grateful eyes look, saying, " Come
again am better for your coming. -
Blessed are they in whose presence the dust
of care is laid by moistening drops Blessed
are they whose eye is serene; whose voice is
gentle whose heart is sweet whose life
makes happiness
Ia order to this there must be discipline
in ourselves 1t is not possible for US to be
under the dominion Of malign feelings, and
conceal il from others. ln the free inter
course Of human life you carry to men the
faculties that are active in you, and generally
excite, or tend to excite, in them precisely
the same feelings. If you arc irritable, you
tend to produce irritation. If you are
proud, you tend to excite pride, and the re-
sistance Of p,ide. If you 60 to men with
envyipgs, if you meet them with jeaiousies
if you bear TO them the atmosphere Of sell
fshness and self-seeking, they catch the in
: fection from you. And these feelings never
in you nor in any other person ministered tC
cheer. There is no comfort in them. They
are sand in the teeth Obstinacy, arrogance
= self.opinionated ways, sueeTing, critical, Gym
ical, ieazing, disputative dispositons-thos,
ugly-quilled dispositions which so many pride
j. themselves in having, so that no one car
touch them without being pricked-all thesi
!. are hateful in you and are hateful 10 their et
fects upon others. No man can be happ,
himself, or promote happiness in other men
! until he has learned to put to sleep these ma
: lgn faculties every day. Pride must e
down, to be clothed in the garments OF be
uevolence. Vanity must not be allowed Il
4 dominate the other parts Of the mind. II j
!! not possible for you to be watching the fault
7 Of your felow-men, aud at the same tim
= make them happy 1t is not possible for yo
+ TO be intoerant IN the construction which yol
!; put upon mems conduct it is not possibl
Il for you to be cynical in your intercourse wit
= = them; it is not possible for you to teas
Is them, and with ten thousand petty disput,
: tions or murmurings to FIJI up the hours
10 their presence and yet convey happiness {
lie them. 1t is not the one little thing that W
!, do now now and then that makes life what
,e is it is the SUN of the million little uncor
I, scious dispositions that 60 to make life joyir
Of or painful.
,s Talk about hymns; talk about prayers
y talk about ecstatic experiences; talk aboI
= the Joys and raptures OF religious meetings
Nd believe in them all but not for people WI
he do not know how to humble themselves, ar
n TO 90 down and serve the poor, aud need
ID aud inferior, and those that cannot pay the
~ again. You are to suspect your RAJ
-, lures when you are selfish in the details
~ your life.
m n If these views are correct and are impo
I. tant, then there is new element Of person
he piety that should enter into the conception
at, every one. We ask men whether they a
~ willing to leave off every known sin, and jo
themselves to the people of God, aud be Va
iant for the faith, and by the faith, wi
49, men. We ask then if they will mainta
ng temperatures and morality and virtue. v
tee ask them if they will go in and out among t
-S- people Of God in an exemplary manner B
81. .m how seldom do we question men as to ben
w. 6cence of disposition! How seldom do
hin follow up those who think that they are bo
= again, to ascertain whether the light is wi
them; whether they are luminous. ii,
seldom do we inouire whether parents find
iHs easier to get along with their children tn
De- they did before they united with the churt
whether the companions Of young people fl
them more mellow, more rich-hearted, me
:. generous, more manly, pleasauter to be W
whether men are more attractive ai
they have joined the church than they W,
before!
oa OI have known men who were genial, W
self ming, happiness producing They were c,
J. verted, and they joined the church, and ii
% they became crustaceous, seli.centered, full
= thoughts of noble life. They withdr
>" from all pleasure. They withdrew mt
from society. They turned their attention
weightier things.
| tell you there is nothing in this wo
which man can 50 i'll afford to turn av
70 from as producing happiues by the power
~ true Christian spirit Of love and wher
AN mau has gone into the service OF God ost
90 sbly and externally, aud is less sweet
. genial, less happiness.producing than he
ers' before, there is something wrong. lie
lot- made mistake somswhere--and the w
81, mistake he could make. He has made
Dl, mistake Of setting aside the principle Of
'A'' nevolence.
y II were to carry home this subject to
= household, are there not many families
the would bear some reformation 2 Are II
''' s on not fathers whose good nature does not d
. for upon them until after breakfast Are Il
AnF not mothers who find { ult with everytl