The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-04-30
JOYFULNESS.

The Value of q Cheerful Count ena nee
One of the Christian Virtues.
Joyfulness is one of the most desira-
BILE characteristics of which q person
can be possessed.
Solomon in his wisdom says: "a
sunny heart doeth good like a medi.
cine" and any one who habitually car
ries about bright face and sunny smile
is likely to be welcome anywhere. 1t is
easy enough to be smiling and joyous
when every thing goes WE'LL when there
are no trials to vex or troubles to annoy,
no weary load of care or anxiety to be
borne.
Could young people but realize the
value of wearing cheerful counte-
nance continually, it would be of great
benefit to them during all their lives.
But discipline is forbidding word to
youthful ears, and it takes not little
experience to convince one that despite
the burden at the heart the face can be
serene and placid if not really joyful
There are very many persons who
would feel highly injured, not to say in
suited, were they called two-faced, and
yet the deplorable fact remains that
they are just that. For outside of the
home and among strangers, their coun-
tenance will be like sunbeam, and
the voice sweet and joyous, but inside,
within the sacred precincts of home,
where the best and loveliest of all there
is in their nature should manifest itself.
there are far too frequently impatient
manners, fretful words, and any thing
but a joyous face. 1t is sadly true:
We have careful thought for the stranger,
And smiles for the sometime guest,
But oft for "our own"
The bitter tone,
Though we love "our own" the best.
There is no doubt that a sober, ioyless
face is often the result of trial and suf-
fering, and just because there is so
much of trial and suffering forever
abroad in the world, it is of great i'm.
portance that cheerfulness and joyous
ness be regarded as one of the Christian
virtues.
We once knew merry little fellow
whose face, picture of fun and happi-
drawn or twisted into cross or peevish
expression. But having seen how other
children looked when sullen or angry,
he evidently thought when any thing
didn't just please him, that if he only
pouted his lips way out as far as he
could get them, and breathed very fast
and hard, his expression would be suf-
ficiently striking and awful to at once
convince all beholders of his great dis
| pleasure. So he would sit on such occa-
sion7 with the most placid, unruffled ex-
preston about his laughing eyes, but
with that pretended pout and labored
breathing, so greatly to the amusement
of those who saw him that he would
generally break into laugh himself,
despite his efforts to appear shockingly
put out.
II only more Of the worlds pouts and
frowns could be but good-natured pre-.
tense
The Apostle repeatedly enjoins upon
his brethren the necessity OF rejoicing,
and after telling them to rejoice in the
Lord Away" emphasizes the urgent
command by adding: 'and again l say,
Rejoice"
And why should Christians ever cease
to rejoice, ever fail to find vein Of
cheerfulness within themselves? If we
really believe, as we profess to, that
this life is merely a transitory state
that just ahead are mansions of bliss
in the Paradise of God, why
need the poor troubles of earth so weigh
upon the heart as to darken the counte
nance and depress the spirits, making
even the bright objects in life take on 6
dull and detected hue.
Better far to show forth what religion
can do by being determined to carry
about cheerful face, to accept the
CHEEKY counsel of Jean Ingelow's whole
some verse: '..
Take Joy home,
And make place in thy great heart 70
her,
And give her time to grow, and cherish her
Then will she come and oft will sing u
thee,
When thou art working in the burrows; aye
Or wedding in the sacred hour Of dawn,
1t 10 a comely fashion to be glad.
: Christian at Work.