Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1893-03-04
HOW TO BE HAPPY.

Cut your coat according to your
cloth is an old maxim and a wise
one, and if people would only square
their ideas according to their circum-
stances how much happier might we
all be! If we only would come down
peg or two in our notions, In accord
ance with our waning fortunes, hap
piness would be always within our
reach. 1t is not what we have or
what we have not which adds or
subtracts from our felicity. 1t is the
longing for more than we have, the
envying of those who possess that
more and the wish to appear in the
world of more consequence than we
really are which destroy our peace
of mind and eventually lead to ruin.
luever witnessed a man submitting
to circumstances with good humor
and good sense so remarkably as my
friend Alexander Willemott. When
first met him. since our school days,
it was at the close of the war; he had
been a large contractor with govern
mcnt for army clothing and accouter-
ments. and was said to have realized
All immense fortune, although his ac-
counts were not yet settled. Indeed
IT was said that they were so vast
that it would employ the time of six
clerks for two years to examine
them previous to the balance sheet
beng struck. As observed, he had
t.een at school with me. and on my
return from the East Indies called
upon him 70 renew our old acquaint-
ance and congratulate him upon his
success
My dear Reynolds, | am delighted
to see you You must come down to
Eele,n castle. Mrs. Willemott will
receive you with pleasure, I'm sure.
You shall see my two girls.
consented. The chaise stopped
at a splendid mansion, and ! was
ushered in by a crowd Of liveried
servants. Everything was Oh the
most sumptuous and magnificent
scale Having paid my respects to
the lady Of the house, ! retired to
dress, as Dime, was nearly ready, it
being then half past Z o'clock. It
was s bef,,re we sat down To an
observation that made, expressing
hope that had not occasioned the
dinner being put off, Willemott re-
piled: On the contrary, my dear
Reynolds, we never sit down until
about this hour. How people can
dine at 4 or 5 o'clock cannot con
celve. could not touch a mouthful. "
The dinner was excellent, and l
paid the encomiums which were its
due
DO not be afraid, my dear fellow
my cook is an artistic eXtraordinalre
pa regular Gordon Bleu. You may
eat anything without fear Of indiges-
ton. How people can live upon the
English cookery of the present day /
cannot conceive | seldom dine out
for fear of being poisoned. Depend
upon it. a good cook lengthens your
days, and no price is too great to in
sure one"
When the ladies retired, being
alone, we entered into friendly con-
versation. expressed my admiration
of his daughters, who certainly were
very handsome and elegant girls.
Very true; they are more than
passa abIe, replied be. I'VE have had
many offers. but not such as come up
to my expectations. Baronets are
cheap nowadays. and Irish lords are
nothing. hope to settle them COM
fortably We shall see Try this
claret; you will find it excellent, not
headache in hogshead of it. How
people can drink port | cannot i'm
agine.
The next morning he proposed that
| should rattle round the park with
him. acceded, and we set off in a
handsome open carriage, with four
grays. ridden by positions at rapid
pace. As we We're whirling along he
observed: In town we must OF
course drive only pair, but in the
country never 60 out without four
horses. There is a spring in four
horses which is delightful; it makes
your spirits elastic and you feel that
the poor animals are not at hard la
Dor Rather than not drive four
would prefer to stay at home.
Our ride was very pleasant, and IN
such amusements passed away one OF
the most pleasant weeks that | ever
remembered. Willemott was not the
least altered he was as friendly, as
sincere, as open hearted as when 8
boy at school. left him, pleased
with his prosperity, and acknowledg
ing that he was we'll deserving Of it,
although bis ideas had assumed such
a scale of magnificence.
went to India when my leave eS'
pired and was absent about foul
years. On my return l inquired after
my friend Wille1nott and was tolo
that his circumstances and expecta
uyI,, -,a,o1, eo,, +l,o Corho{t bol