The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-07-17
[For the HERALD
THE TRUE SOURCE OF HAP PINESS.
BY w. II. oGBoRr

1t was an idle early spring time day,
So very early work had not begun;
! The sun was pouring forth his gladdening ray,
That Time, her yearly course again might run.
L strolled away with fancy for my guide,
| But fingered now aud then to gaze around;
All nature smiled with newly wakened pride,
| And joyousness was heard in every sound.
paused beside laughing stream awhile,
| To watch its waters gently leap and flow;
| And thought its sunny ripples would beguile
The darkest grief to pleasures brightest glow.
thought could remain forever there,
And listen to its merry artless song;
And wondered if such pleasure everywhere,
Was known and felt by natures busy throng.
Close by the waters edge unknown to fear,
In modest beauty gr"ws the daisy white;
And feath red songsters come from far and neal
To bathe their wings and sing their songs oflight
The wooded glen re-echoed long and loud
With gladstone songs from feathered warblers gay,
And all seemed joy, without shade to cloud
The brightness out, or knell their merry lay
Resolved the source of happiness to know;
1 followed on my ever restless mind,
Which led me where the rill began to flow,
Ard told me what sought there could find.
No place on earth had before eer seen,
SO lovely as this late discovered spot;
Its gentle slope was lined with brightest green,
And pleasure seemed to all a common lot.
1 rested long within that sunny air,
And listened to its joy bells ceaseless ring,
And thought that e EN- the fairest of the fair,
Was dull when once compared with early spring.
/ wondered too, why all saw and heard,
Were light and free, as if they knew no care;
Why all were happy ;-sunshine, flower and bird
Alike. Joy filled the heart OF each one there.
I scarcely knew if were yet ON earth,
Such heavenly splendor calmly reigned around;
I thought this sorrow-world could ne'er give
birth,
To beauties such as held me now spell bound;
thought the magic concords far too sweet
For mortal tongues and dreaming closed my
eyes
To dream still more, when 10 wondering, meet
A winged seraph from the azure skies.
my friend" the vision said ere could speak,
"You wandered here to day with saddened heart;
Now, ifyou'l list, IL tell You what you seek,
Also how to obtain IL ere we part.
Yon humming bird observe with restless wing,
The busy bee doth never idly stand,
The fowerets bloom, the warbling songsters sing
Their songs of joy; all make happy band"
You wonder how, and why so much of JOY,
Unclouded reigns within that merry throng;
Why they are thus SO free why none annoy:
Why heart and soul seem blended into song'
Tis thus my friend, they each have work to do :
Each strives to do another some kind deed
In helping others, each find pleasures new,
And living thus, they each on pleasures feed.
''1he sunshine warns the flowers which feed the
bees
The bees abundant store is used for food
The stream with water clear doth feed the trees
That furnish cooling shade-thus doing good.
And you, to share their bliss must be employed !;
Each moment idly spent misfortunes breed;
Think not of cares; but what you have enj Dyed,
And you'll share pleasures new, ere you have
need"
Again, ere could speak the vision fed,
Aud waking found still was there alone;
/ pondered long on what the stranger said,
Who had the way to happiness just shown.
l treasured deep the memory of that vale,
Wherein learned how happiness was gained
And since that time do reherse the tale,
When sadness comes, how joy may be obtained.