Richland beacon., 1880-09-11
HAPPINESS.
DY y. W.

"IPi''"eo IL, Will I'LL vi itS picaouico
and surroundings; but how prone we
are to let it hastily and carelessly pass
by, Just partially slipping its sweets and
pleasures. reserving the fullest and
greatest enjoyment for tomorrow |
which seldom comes. And this is why !
our anticipations so frequently so far
exceed our realizations in richness of
pleasure and happiness in this life. 1t is
always with us, tomorrow, We intend to
do so-and-so, and then we shall be so
happy; but when that expected hour
has arrived, perhaps bitter disappoint-
ment meets us instead of the looked-fOr
pleasure. How often it 1850. We are ex-
pecting to greet dear and much-loved
friends tomorrow, that perhaps we have
not seen for years; the heart Is exultant
with JOY and untold happiness. The
time is passing SO heavily or slowly to-
day, and we are SO eagerly wishing and
longing for tomorrow, when we shall
see those happy faces and dear forms OF
fondly cherished friends. Alas ! To-
morrow arrives, and with it what sad
words fall upon the ears. Another hor-
rible accident. Our friends are wounded
or dying; perhaps dead. Crushed are
all Of those dear hopes, which We have
so lovingly cherished. Such is this life;
its sorrows and disappointments far out
balance its pleasures, many times. The
pleasures of life are Aeeting, but its sor
rows are lasting, not easily banished-
they leave an impression on the heart,
as If they were photographed there.
Happiness, like the will-o'- '-the-wisp,
seems ever to be in the misty future, lur-
ingus on. anAthe heart is always yearning
for something iui4 beyond its reach; a
craving that seems tIrefuse to be salts
fed with the present. To bring our
minds. s.4. mat to-day q all and even
sdo'1d h.. We have an assurance of
it. by wishing to make all around "s
h.,-ry iu every respect, and in SO doing
we shall not fail to be happy ourselves.
This will constitute present happiness
How many things are constantly oc-
curing to take people from this world to
another, in very short space OF time,
without even the slightest warning. We
know this, for we see and hear it every
day. Our time may come when We
least expect it, like thief in the night.
Are We making proper preparations for
this great event, by improving the pres
ent moment to the best Of our ability?
Life is full of bitter sorrows and keen
disappointments. Tomorrow 80 often
fails to bring with it lis rich freight OF
treasures, and gilded happiness. The
lofty castles that have been SO magnifi-
Gently reared, and 80 luxuriOusly ap-
pointed, by hope and fond expectation
for tomorrow, are but mere novels,
bleak and barren, drear and desolate ;
or they are shorn Of more than half their
expected brilliancy to-day. Life is but
n dream of tomorrow, but when it is to-
day we have to awake from our slumber,
and. 10 the vision of life is reality,
shorn of many of its looked-for beauties
and pleasures. We are dissatisfied with
the bringings Of to-day, and again we
cast our minds eye to the unseen and
unknown future of this world. Far bet
ter will it be for us if our future antici
pations are placed on heavenly home
,,haro there are no more heart-sOrrOws
no tears to be wiped from our eyes, nt
more chickering's, nor more backbitmg
and slanderous tongues, no bitter frowns
no cruel. taunting words, no unkint
. n .rts. NO false friends; all shall be pure
holy love there, with free communion
of kindred spirits, happy forever more
II ia but short distance from us all
soon we shall arrive at that last grea
station, when the journey OF life shal
have been terminated with us, and "
shall be called upon TO give an accoun
Of the time that has been given NJ mere
rs well A. the talents, and also the di
mSal that we have made of them. Fac
one Of us must pass through that tryin
ordeal for themselves. 1t is In VAN Il
rs 70 think Of substitute. As we a
horn. so we must die, and after Tn
comes the judgment. THIS is vel
plain language that is taught TO u.s.
Let us each day strive to do some
t,e act Of kindness, some deed OF caarlt
A cheerful word to some poor downca
one. 4 few words Of sympathy Tor Sol
one Who may be suffering with pam {"
torture, kind word for 'he deeply
e. A;ctedones. Oh how it will toucn
- heart st such time; how many tim m
snch little kindnesses are almost II
angels visits, and they will bring tn
reward. The precious moments OF vi