Rock Island Argus., 1871-07-31
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pailp s.Aral1s.
Sour Happinesses.

Our hAppinesses Ars widely misestimatedi
and few things are subject to mora curious
perversiOns of facts. The negative view OF
q happy nature is 9 miserable one The
miserable one may, however; hope for hap
piness, the very thought Of which will, view
ed from an abyss of wreschsdnssI, lend q
faint light Of encouragement to dependency.
and may make che hearElsap toward de-
lightful Something" which the Instructed
mind can be brought TO believe does exist
in this life. though the body may never
have enjoyed is pleasant influence. Or one
who has once been happy may look up in
deep despaiF and intensely magnify the
value or degree of that agreeable sensation
called happiness, which the bright, healthy
face of an innocent and mirthful child must,
he thinks, truthfOlly purtray. He who is
happy can never, in nature, long for misery
and naturally must underestimate its un-
happiness This arises from the innate
love for what is gratifying 70 the body and
strong distaste for what is painful and uu-
pleasant. But above the various degrees
of so called happiness supposed to emanate
from advantages of birth, position, wealth,
beauty, yigor, sto., must rank those degrees
of happiness which We may ensue BY our
own labor and cOnirissnce, which We may
as sseuely make for ourselves as we may
make the bed we lie on. The world points
the exsggerating finger of envy at the for
mer hut of this latter few suspect US the
possessors, and mono really know the de
lightful ex psrience which we have made and
still hope 20 mako hesh every time. Not
that we can scheme and execute plan for
this purpose with the oartAinty thai we can
sit down at such or suchA time and be sure
that we shall experience an exhiterAting
sensation stealing over US. Happiness is
not to be chased down and caught II
must be worked for and deserved and then
generally when least expected, twill be
with US, coming over US with gentle stealth
aud seeming. with its whispering glow, tC
say "Here | am r. And then, when is il
come, how little does ones work seem &C
have been To teach us how to make hap
piness for ourselves would but be TO adduc'
hundred time worn proverbs and sayings
some of which would not suit natures tt
which others would be especially spplcab bic
But we know Of no method which is so gen
orally efhcacous as the doiug or saying
leaving uudoue OF unsaid, something whicl
by this effort calls the light, brighl expires
sion Of pleasure into the eyes of liviuJ
creature. The glance, be it ignorant of it
motive oAuse, or be it the tender lightning
fash Of expressed gratitude, is the sam
pure promoter OF happiness in ourselves
And this way of seeking happiness is YER
good for our own qualification does no
swell within us til we have received oculA
proof Of the heartfelt joy of another. 4
sierner and less gentle emotion of pleasure
perhaps, than any other, may be gained b.
the unconditionAl ackno wledgment Of
wrong which we have done another, wht
would never have suspected the author o
the eVh 0eed had we not proclaimed our
selves. Tender and reVereutia treatmen
Of helpless ones and those infrm, persisteu
lberaIitY toward i'll regulated tempers ono
uncertain capacities, well considered bes
towsI of money saved BY self denial, an,
many other such like things triHing in pas
sing mention but difficult to the doer, ar,
sources Of happy and psacesbls reflection
But unfortunately our tendency is to miss
our oPPor'unity and also we are prone Ic
overlook or forget the fac. that, while we
undoubtedly have let many chances slip by
unheeded, there will be, even if we only live
one single day !onger, opportunities for US
to do and say, leave uudone and unsaid
things which, though no one else in The
world may suspect it. would go to make "
no small share of the number of Our Hap
pinesses.