The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-15
Humor in the Household.

We are apt to think only of distinguished
workers when considering the great i'm
provements of the age, and thus it is when
we turn our thoughts to the household. We
are ambitious to have them models of per-
lection, and often, too often, the labors are
great and manifold and we are in danger of
falling into irritable speaking to those
around US. The steam engine life that
many are inclined to lead is wearing on the
nerves, making old people impatient and
young people old ard cross. The fates and
their surroundings are denounced as their
greatest enemies Many a noble life is
warped and wasted fretting over trifes,
which might be entirely changed by little
thought and reflection or cultivating good
humor. We usually adore the Solomon of
the family. An amiable spirit is thoroughly
appreciated, for, though things get mixed
up and accidents occur las they will
in the best regulated families, they
never lose their equable pose of spirit,
but if we want a genuine shake-up of facul
ties and feeling, the member of house
hold full of humor can readily bring that
about. One fully endowed with such a
spirit can brighten darkest homes. Watch
.sthe sunrise or sunset of an autumn or win
y ter day. The back ground of the sky is
full of gray, leaden clouds as the glorious
orb of day co mes forth or passes beyond
YOUR vision, and the clouds are tinged with
glow of crimson and gold that defies our
powers of description. The difficulties
sometimes incidental to domestic life bring
a cloud of Impotence or discomfort, but
does not the mirthful one usually dissipate
or cast glow of humor upon these dark
feelings just as the sun gilds the clouds! 1t
n eOntaplOnS
good qualities, can be cultivated. But it
has a host of enemies; one of its greatest
is failure to appreciates home efforts. A
friend of mine had an excellent wife, and
II there ever was such a dainty as an anti
dyspeptic pie, her pies were of that kind.
Pastry, light and flaky, inside always
toothsome, they generally called forth some
words of commentator from guests or the
good-natured portion of the household. but
invariably from her husband came the
stereotyped remark, 81 have eaten better,
somewhere / cannot recall.n Cold, indif-
ferent words. How they would chill some
spirits, even make guests feel uncomfort-
able, but my friend had grown used to
such compliments and gaily replied, ~
wonder where" The touchstone of humor
had become her panacea for all discourage
ment and thus it is that humor, or think
ing lightly of that which is not pleasing,
brings to the household a spirit of quiet
living, ~ good humored pleasantly to in
spire love for life's duties! Even though
confined to the limits of our household the
seed of humor kindly sown may tell when
our life work is finally done. Some, it is !
true, seem trammeled on. every side Why, |
we carnot define, but we do know, and |
have often felt that the farmers house
-Apld, situated in the midst of ma |
lures beauties, is or can be the |
/prompter of much that is pleasing. 1t is |
here that we learn of our silent teacher |
that humOr end harmony are one Ours is |
but a probationary state and, after all, |
ife's cares and burdens are, to some eX-
tent, of our own making. Oiled with |
humor, they vanish into non-existence
What, if we do daily make failures, it is
upon our failures that other mems success
is built, and often, indeed always, requires
more courage to accept in the right spirit
than If the good fortune came to ourselves
To rejoice at our neighbours prosperity is
to attain the highest height that humor can
reach, and will rebound with ten fold power
10 US and our own household. 1t is there
we turn if joyOys, if betrayed, and if in its
storehouse we can find all the happy re-
suits Of a genial, d-humored spirit, sub
dued by all the many other graces that fol
low in its train, we are led to believe, to
feel, to know that it is but foretaste of the |
great unknown future-the household
where all shall be one spirit, one humor,
and where all shall be harmony.