The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-07
THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS
TRANSLATED from TOlstoi.)

L L
Once on time there was hermit, who
lived in forest, and he was not afraid
of wild beasts. The hermit and the wild
beasts used to talk together, and they I'M
derstood each other.
One day, the hermit was lying under a
tree; and gathered together there for the
sight were crow, pigeon, deer and a
serpent. These creatures began to talk
about the trouble in the world.
The crow said:
Trouble comes from hunger. When
you are satisfying your hunger, perched
on branch and croaking, everything
seems, to you, pleasant, good and happy.
But just fast for two days, and you will
look on nature with very different spirit.
You feel nervous. You cannot stay in
one place. You never have a moments
rest. And, if you happen to see bit of
meat, it is worse still, and you throw your
self upon it without moments thought.
No matter if they beat you or throw
stones at you. Dogs and wolves may
snap at you, but you never let go. How
many Of us are killed by hunger in this
wayl All trouble comes from hunger"
The pigeon said:
81 say that trouble does not come from
hunger. Trouble comes from love. II
we lived alone, we SHOULD not suffer so
much,-at least there would be only one
to suffer; but as long as we live in cou-
pies, and you love your mate dearly, you
have no rest. You think only of her.
Had she had enough to eat? Is she
warm enough? And, whenever she is
away from her mate, then you feel en-
tirely lost You are beset by the idea
that a goshawk may have carried her of,
or that she has been taken off by
men. You begin to search for her, and
end by getting into trouble yourself
perhaps into the clutches of goshswk,
or maybe into the meshes OF net. And,
il your mate is lost, you can neither eat
nor sleep. You do nothing but search
for her and weep. How many Of us die
thusl ALI trouble comes from love, not
from hunger"
The serpent said:
"No, trouble comes from neither hun
ger nor yet from love, but from Miniature.
If we lived peacefully, if we did not quar-
rel, then everything would go we'll. On
the other hand, if thing is done against
your will, you fly into passion, and are
offended at everything. You only think
of venting your anger on some one. You
do nothing but fume and fret, and would
like to bite'some one. You have no pity
for any one. You would even bite your
father and mother. You would eat your
self. At last you are undone by your
own fury. All trouble comes from ill.
nature"
The deer said:
"No; it is not from Immature, nor is it
from love or hunger that trouble comes.
1t is from fear. IL it were not for fear,
all would go well. We are heet.footed
and strong. Our antlers defend us from
small animals, and we can run away from
large ones; but we cannot escape from
fear. If branch creaks in the forest or
leaf moves, we tremble at once from
fright. Your heart begins to beat as il it
were going to leap from your breast, and
you dart off like an arrow. Again, it is
a hare that passes by, a bird that flaps its
wings, or twig that falls. Instantly, you
fancy yourself pursued by wild animal
though really you are running toward
danger. Presently in avoiding dog, you
come upon hunter. Then, overcome by
fear, you run, not knowing whittier. You
make bound, and roll down precipice,
where you meet death. Always slee ping
with one eye open, always on the alert,
always heightened. No peace. All trou-
BILE comes from fear"
Then the hermit said:
"It is neither from hunger, nor love,
nor from Immature that our trouble
comes. Trouble comes from our own dis
positions, for they breed hunger, and
love, and Immature and fear. THE
Christian Register.