Nevada County picayune., 1889-02-06
HAPPINES
BY s. C. E.


 will not bear much handling. We may count the pistils and stamens, note beauty of the corolla and the form of the calvx, and inhale the fragrance floating from it's tiny cen ter; but if, in our eager pursuit of knowledge. in our devotion to science. we carry our examination a lttle to far, the flower lies torn and faded Tn our grasp, crushed and unsightly thing. It is best to take "the good the gods provide" without inquiring too close into its origin. The healthest soul Is the one that is so in harmony with God. that it does not need to he perpetually studying itself, searching for points of accord and discord; and the healthiest heart is the one that is openly and frankly a loving heart. not stopping to ask 1 why 1t loves or to wonder If it gives
 
 more than 1t receives, or to ask or question whether the objects of it's love are fully worthy. It simply loves and so it touches God.
 What is earthly happiness, that phantom of winch we hear so much. and hear so little; whose promises are constantly given and contantly broken, but as constantly y believed :: and which cheats Us with the hlos, soms instead of the fruits Like Juno, she Is goddess in pursuit, but cloud in possession delied by those who cannot enjoy her. and despised by those who can. In anticipation, we would like to believe but, alas, our experience teaches Us what we must believe. Happiness, the grand mistress of ceremonies in the dance of life, impeis us through all it's maZes. but leads none of Us hy the
 
 same route. Some pursue her in pleasure. some in wisdom, and others in both. Antony sought her in love ; Brutus in glory; Caesar in dominion. The first found disgrace. the second disgust, and the last ingrattude, and all destruction.
 To some she is more kind, but not less cruel; she hands them her cup and they drink even to stupetaction until they doubt whether they are men or beasts. or even dream that they are gods. On some she smiles as on Napoleon, with an aspect more bewitching than an Italian sun. but it is only to make her power more terrible, and, by one short caress, to embitter the bangs of separation. To ambition she sends power; to ayarice, wealth: to love, jealousy :; to revenge, remorse. Alas. what are these but so many names for yeNation or disappointment: She has no re- spect for persons. She travels in- cognita with contentment, and per haps parCakes of a dinner of herbs in some lowly cottage.
 That all mankind engage earnestly, but for the most part unsuccessfully, in the pursuit of happiness, IS a truth too trite to be iterated. And yet, though daily instances of the fact are brought before us, our astOnishment would seem to increase when we are forced to acknowledge the fact, that, upon this subject, man is no wiser now than was man centuries ago ; that there, alone, time has not en- frightened him, nor experience granted him her all-effectual aid. It is not strange that happiness should be the object of all our hopes and fears and toll. the center around which clusters everything that to us renders this world attractive and life desir- able: Have you not known those who have spent years of frultless anxiety and unrewarded eNertion in the pursuit of happiness:
 And if the desire for happiness is natural to mankind, is it wrong to seek it? Is there no better aim in life?
 Would it not he better, could we only make up cur minds 10 be satIs- fled with reasonable amount of the good things of this world? Some people spend their whole lives in anticipation they are determined tc be vastly happy at some time or other, when they have time, or when circumstances will admit They for get that the present time has one advantage over every other--it is our own. Past opportunities are forever gone future ones, not yet come, lr .fg...a