Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1876-02-10
lFoR THB herald AND rhIBuSRl
THE CHEERFUL GIVER.
A Story for All,
Why mourn that we have sorrows,
why Weep when called to bear
Aud we can langh at care"

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The best and most valuable citizen Of
our little town is Mr.. White. lie is
poor, lame and seemingly of but little
general interest. Yet he etfeats much 10
his quiet way, that the great ones fail to
accomplish He is so gentle, kind, cheer.
full and practical. Though suffering ter
ribly at times from his lameness he is al.
ways so cheerful that il is pleasure to be
with him. He finds sunshine in every
thing. Seems fairly running over with
happiness, when almost any one else ia
bis place would be blue, discouraged and
miserable. He has to work hard to make
a living, but is just as cheerful at work as
when idle, aud believe more so, for he
then feels he is useful and none but a
really useful person can be completely
happy. | dropped in upon him one day
last week and found him suffering acute
pain and feeling great sympathy for him
said, yours is hard to bear Mr..
White, enduring so much misery all the
years of your life and for no fault of your
own either, as you were born with the
disease, can't see how you endure it SO
checrfully' "Why" said he at would
not be any easier il was to grumble,
growl and complain all the time, and sulk
and have the blues. etc. l strive to keep
my system in as healthy condition as
possible, so that | am certain of suffering
no more than is actually unavoidable, and
then make the best of what must be.
1t is better to be cheerfuly submissive
over the inevitable, than to fret and worry
about it. 1t only bores people to be
always telling them of your aches and
pains, especially when they are powerless
to help them. No one likes continual
drain upon his sympathy, or to associate
with the sad and gloomy. 1t is only our
most intimate friends that really care
whether we are i'll or not, and ey en- they
feel it burthen when asked to listen too
often to the same old tale. But you see
everybody likes cheerful, pleasant,
genial spirit. If sorrow is infections, Joy
is doubly so, aud if we must have any.
thing that's catching let it be what blesses
rather than curses those upon whom we
bestow it. A happy, smiling face is
always pleasant to look upon and to know
that the whole world was free from pain,
woe and misery would rejoice nearly
everi one, for though | have heard of
some who seem to enjoy the suffering Of
others, yet hope they are very few. To
see peace, happiness and prosperity over
all the land, will give JOY methinks to the
most selfish spirit smiling fields, pleasant
meadows and Aowery daes are springs of
sunshine to all hearts. | want to do the
little l can to make this = happy world
for all about me. 1t is so easy to say
pleasant things and to do good things"
To illustrate my case | mention an in.
cldent of my own experience
About months ago found Billy
Smith in my stable stealing hay, when
he saw me he dropped his load and begged
me not to expose him, saying he had been
sick and had got so behind hand that he
was fairly discouraged aud hardly knew
what he was doing. Though well aware
that he was an idle spendthrift, never
laying up a cent for rainy day, did
not tell him SO, for | remembered he had
never been trained up to habits of thrift
and industry, and that bis parents before
him had always lived from hand to mouth,
luxurating upon tie best that could be
had when meaus was flush, and living
upon "hog and hominy" when plenty
failed. So why blame him for being Just
what he was? l simply told him that
when be wronged another be always did
himself the greater injury, besides setting
bad example to his children which was
worse than all. For no one can expect to
have honest, truthful, good children unless
they show them their virtues in their
own lives Ia conclusion | said, Now
neighbOr Smith will lend you half my
hay aud five dollars in money to set you
upon your feet again, aud trust that you
will see that it is to your own interest to
become good, honest, industrious citizen
if not for your own sake for the sake of
your patient wife and 4 little boys who
look up to you for care training and
guidance; for present happiness and for
what they are to- become you have
hitherto lived a reckless sort of life and /
called it taking it easy, but you have !
never felt really useful or satisfied.
Begin now to work,save and improve yo.r
home, to train up your children ana |