The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1873-03-12
CHEER FULNESS.
BY MRS. HARRIET W. HoIcoMpE.


What is more pleasant to meet than a cheer
ful face? How celebrating to one who has
passed through day of troubles and petty
trials, to meet a countenance free from clouds.
The tired husband comes home at night to his
neat little cottage where his faithful COM
panion has prepared for his reception. She
has toied as hard as he, the children have
been very trying through the day, her sunny
| disposition has overcome every difficulty, and
she is now able to meet her husband with a
smile, and the weary look vanishes from his
brow and they set themselves at their frugal
meal, with happy, contented hearts, What a
contrast such home presents to one where a
peevish and over-worked wife resides, crying
children and dsorderly rooms and uncombed
heads meet the father; a father whose dispo-
sition has become embittered, by constant
scolding and fault finding, that his answers
are only in harsh and severe tones. God
pity the children of such parents. 1t is only
cheerful and animated spirit that can brave
the peril and tolls of this life with success.
When hardships beset U.S. when we are sur
rounded on every side by opposition without
cheerfulness lends it dispelling power, we
sink into state of dependency unfit to meet
our troubles. When our martyred Lincoln
was striving day and night to discharge
eficctually the duties of his office, worn out
with mental toll, harrassed by intriguing
politicians, saddened by the death of his own
dear boy, sorrowed by the boding thoughts of
suffering soldiers as they walked their snowy
beats, retiring to rest at night for few short
hours, only to be troubled in horrd dreams
by gloomy spectres of dead and dying patriots,
| of wailing and homeless widows what. mid
all these trials, duties, and discouiagements
gave him power to struggle on |? He was
accustomed at times to throw aside for a few
moments his pen and papers, and engage in
some mirthful conversation, would enjoy a
hearty laugh, or tell one Of his many stories :
than again resume his labors and it was this
and this only that invigorated and sustained
him. Had it not been for cheerfulness he
he would have died ere the assassin's bullet
pierced his noble brain. History is full of
examples illustrating the intense suffering
that can be endured, and the good that can be
| accomplished under trying circumstances.
when sustained by spirit of cheerfulness
and animation. Checrfulness ought to be.
and generally is, the accompaniment of a good
christian life. All christian martyrs seem to
have died cheerfully never despaired in a
good cause but worked cheerfully on. So
worked Elliott and Williams amid the hunger
and SHOWS of American forest life, ever
cheerful, ever hoping to convert the heather
Indians. The christian Latimer was cheerful
even among burning fagots. But we need
not 60 into history, in the lower walks of life
we see its influence every day. Psychologists
tell us that as the mind is, so is the body.
Health and happiness both depends on cheer
fulness. Cheerfulness like music, sweeteus
toll. What would nature be without the
cheering rays Of sun to gild it. There would
be no morning scenes in the East, no glorions
MONDAY no beautiful ilumined sunset
skies All would be darkness and gloom.
What would social life be without cheerful
ness? There would he no pleasure in child
hood, no glory in manhood, no beauty in
DEATH Let us then be cheerful and work
with a good heart to noble end.