Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-10-18
How to be Happy.

Every man should bring to the affairs of
life so much of himself, should associate
with outward things 30 much Of his inner
being that the outward should be transfig-
ured and transformed. Great is the power
of association.
How the wilderness blossoms like a rose
to those who look at it through their affec-
tions! How cold and cheerless is the
palace where there is no love, no hope. no
transport, no joyful experience! 1t is
stately. brilliant, beautiful, but dcsolate.
The old brown house where you were
brought up, and the old barn where, from
day to day, you did duty with stubbed
fingers and bare feet, and the old field over
whose hills you have climbed-homely as
these scenes are, is there ANYTHING so beau
tiful to you as they are in their homeli-
ness, when you go back to them? IL is
what you have put on to these old things
that makes them so dear to you. 1t is that
memory of your own life which has grown
in connection with them. 1t is that part OF
yourself which you see in them.
So, the duties of life become more agree
able by reason of their association with
ourselves and that which is dear to us. II
is not always the most cOmely offices that
are the most tolerable. The service of a
mother to child involves something more
than the mere act. 1t is invested with a
feeling which makes it to the mother one
of the most delightful Of occupations.
What mother does not know that it is a
privilege to tend her own babe? What
sick mother does not look sadly and envi-
Ously upon the nurse that performs the
functions That must be performed for the
child? And yet they are often functions
which, If they were performed for any
other than the mothers own child, Would
be odious to her.
And that which we see i'm the mother
extends more or less through every part
of life. That to which You bring diligence,
and conscience, apd taste, and cheerful
ness, and gladness, and sympathy, be-
comes transformed. Whether a man be
in the stable, or in the colliery, or i'm the
stithy, or on the ship; wherevera a man is,
ifhe has manly heart, and can bring to
his affairs real manliness-their duty be-
comes to him blossoming, and that is sweet
which otherwise would be bitter.
Let not men, therefore, humble their busi-
ness, as unhungry boys do their unwel-
come bread. Let not men say, "Oh, you
have good time preaching; but if you
were blacksmith you would find it diff
ferent." / sometimes wish were one. L
have hammered as much cold iron i'm the
pulpit as ever blacksmith did hot iron
on the anvil. Let not men say, .'Ah! If
you were poor and had to drudge, you
would not see things as you do nOw." i
have been poor, and / have had to drudge.
/ have been through the various stages be
tween adversely and prosperity. andI have
found that some functions require less and
some more moral elements than others !:
but / have also found that kingly, noble
spirited man can redeem many duties
which are i'm themselves unattractive and
repulsive, and make them honorable and
beautiful and agreeable.
There is no place where God puts you,
where it is not your duty to turn round,
and say. ''How shall / perfume this place
and make it fragrant as the honeysuckle
and the violet, and beautiful as the rose ?"
In this world you are to perform the great
duties ofspiritual, moral and physical life,
In the place where you are.-H w.
Rsecher