Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-22
"The Rainbow in the BubbIe.o

CHEERFULNESS is to the mind what
sunshine is to the earth-its reiuvenating
force. The cheerful people are always
young, however gray their locks, dim their
vision, or wrinkled their faces. Nay,
cheerfulness will keep gray hairs and
wrinkles at bay more effectually than any
cosmetic or magic wash. 1t is a talisman
which attracts affection and regard to
those who wear it. The cheerful person
is every where welcome, and nowhere out
OF place. She lights up the darkest day,
and has the same genial and stimulating
effect as the sunbeam; she makes the best
OF every thing-even misfortune seen
through her speCtacles does not look so
ugly; she anticipates happiness ahead,
and is sure that trouble will get detained
on the way she sees the silver lining of
every cloud, and the first rift; where an
other murmurs and doubts, she is full of
thanksgiving and hope. The small dis
comforts Of life do not fret her as MANY
another. She is the best traveller the
world over-heeds the iolts on the road
only to laugh at them; breakdowns and
detentions are only so many novel ex-
perlences to her; and we doubt if even a
highwayman could rob her of the habit
of looking at the bright side of every
thing. She does not make faces over
a poor dinner or hard bed, but resigns
herself to Inconvenience so complacent
ly that one might be deceived into think
Ing her accustomed to them. That she is
a most cOmpanionable parsonage, the
comfort OF her presence attests. Her ex-
ample is infectious, and we find ourselves
cropping our way out of the slough of
despond by the light of her countenance.
If good nature is stronger than toma-
hawks" as the sage tells us, then cheer
fulness is its twin sister. With many of
us, perhaps, cheerfulness is no more
virtue for which we are responsible than
quick ear for music would be. than
Grecian profile, or a fine head of hair. Tt
is bred IN the bone with few Of US, Just
as talent for carpentry, for sculpturing,
or versltylng, is; and as it is reckoned
disgrace to spell badly, but no virtue to
spell we'll, so the talent for cheerfulness,
being our birthright, is not so much set
down to our credit, but so much sub
stracted therefrom If we do not develop it
into genius. But it is none the less a
sWeetener Of existence, and such charm
ing thing to meet with, in man or woman,
that we are apt to treat the owner as if it
were plant Of his own selecting
and sowing, since we do not stop to in
quire how much is indigenous or how
much exotic; for though the effect is the
same upon the spectator, yet the mead be-
longs to those who, having no natural in
clination toward cheerfulness, have yet
succeeded in grating it upon the barren
stock of a respondent disposition, who
have been obliged to fl ght bravely for the
sunshine they spend lavishly. We do not
question but it is a more certain recipe
against the encrcachments of disease than
the specifics of medical science. By ex
animation we should doubtless find that
the few who reach the nineties are those
who cultivate a sanguine temper; who
wear life like a garland rather than a
yoke; who do not wiring their hands
when their stocks depreciate, but are GER
tain they will rise tomorrow; who, when
the ship is leaking, are on the outlook for
sail; who, when their case is desperate,
do not make it worse by desperation
people who can say,
:'Iflife an empty bubble be.
How sad are those who never see
The rainbow in the bubble!''
--HnYT1ar'o