Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-06-02
3Nisecllanu.
How to be Happy.
BY HON. SCHUYLER ooLFAx,

| NlCE-fkhslDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
take as the text of this article the
sayings Of two of the ablest of British
writers. Old DR.. johnson once remark
ed that "a habit Of looking at the best
side of every event is better than thou
sand pounds per year." But Hume
rated the money value of cheerfulness far
higher; for he said "he would rather
possess a cheerful disposition, inclined
always to look at the bright side of
things, than with gloomy mind to be
the master of an estate of ten thousand
year." These strong expressions refer,
however, to the particular individual only.
When the effects of good-nature, happy
dispositions, sunny temperament, are
measured in their relation to the family,
or the wider circle of friends, or the still
wider circle of the community in which
we dwell, they become still more incapa-
BILE of computation as to their financial
value. Ifall needless unhappiness, all
illnature, all acrimonious words, all un-
kind retorts, all manifestations oftemper,
all moroseness of disposition, could be ex-
tirpated from our daily lives, whatan in
creased wealth of Joy should we all gar
ner up! How full ofsunshine the world
would seem to bel To develop, there
fore, and to cultivate the happy side of
our nature is one ofthe paramount duties
of life. And, believing that much OF
personal unhappiness results from unwise
habits of thought or speech, from care
lessness, from failure to realize the ex-
quisite happiness of cheerfuiness, ven
ture to-day upon few random and des.
ultory suggestions.
Don't borrow trouble. 1t is safe to es-
innate that fully three-quarters of all an
ticipated troubles are never realized.
And yet how prone are thousands to
worry and torment themselves over their
possible future-to cultivate imaginings
ofevil that they fear are in store for them.
Do they start on a journey? Its happi-
ness is marred by forebodings of ship
wreck, or collision, or accident. Is
loved one sick? They are sure it will
be unto death. Are they in business? ?
Disaster is uppermost in their thoughts.
Do children cluster around their hearth
stone? Evil, they are sure, will come
to them. Is he farmer? Seedtime
and harvest, he fears, will fail in his case.
Has he investments Fraud, he imag-
ines, will impoverish him at last And
so they go through life, keeping the skel-
eton of misfortune ever in their sight,
impairing their happiness, and constant
ly cultivating misery and depression.
How many lives are thus clouGed, with
their gloomy shadows falling on all
around them. What they need more
than all things else is education unto
cheerfulness. 1t is to faithfully perform
every duty of life, leaving results to Him
who doeth all things well. 1t is to edu-
cate their natures to turn ever toward
the light, as do the trees of the forest
and the flowers of the field. 1t is to car
ry sunshine with them wherever they 20,
in and out the circle of their households,
in the busy workshop and the crowded
street. 1t is to indulge in no sad fore
bodings till trouble really comes, and
not to make themselves melancholy by
its anticipation. 1t is to barrow Joy and
hope and happiness from the cheerful and
buoyant performance of every daily duty
"a loan whose investment is sure and
whose dividends are certain.
Study patience and forbearance. 1t
does not need inspiration to teach us that
"the tongue is an unruly member" The
quick, the sharp, the unkind, the cut
ting reply, instantly conceived, instantly
spoken, and often long regretted-how
much unhappiness it has created, to the
speaker de- Noil as tuC Ouc duuISssSu! n
soft answer indeed turneth away wrath
but a harsh answer often DESTROYS both
love and friendship. The adage we teach
our children-that, as we have two ears,
and but one tongue, we should hear twice
and think twice before we speak once is
even more worthy of practice by children
of larger growth, especially if quick in
temper or hasty in words. Temper. like
fire, is good servant but bad master.
1t needs a curb, like spirited horse;
and, tofollow out the simile, ifit becomes
your master, woe to you And patience
and forbearance affect by their health
full contagion all within the circle of their
influence. Go into family where this
law of kindness isobeyed by the parents,
and you will see it happily reflected in
their children. But look into one where
anger is allowed to prompt the unkind
retort, and you will find the sad results
upon the young of the daily example of
strife and discord before them. Go into
a factory, or workshop, where the fore
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