Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-08-01
SUNSHINE.

ITO sit In the sunshine pure and
sweet Is blessed thing for an Invalid,
and for everyone else. think the hea-
then who wOrshiped the sun were wise
In their way, inasmuch as they worship
ed the source Of their greatest pleas
ures, In the way Of light, warmth and
brightness, and all the benefits sunshine
gave them without recognizing the
power, unknown because unseen, that
gave them their greatest JOY. They
worshipped the greatest thing of which
they had any knowledge, and that far
they were right, for what would this
earth be II the sun should always veil
Its face In cloudss
The depressing effect Of week Of
cloudy weather Is not felt alone by hui
man beings, but the whole animal world
as well. Cattle go mOping around,
horses put on a forlOrD, fOrsaken look,
the birds refuse to sing, the crows fly
round giving voice to their discomfort
In mournful "caws", and everything,
both great and small, shows the effect Of
cloudy, gloomy days, with nothing to
brighten them up. But let q day OF sun
shine come, and behold the change! Pe0-
pie meet each other with smiling, hap
DIV faces, the horses toss their heads
and caper away over the hills, playful
and happy, the birds sing as though Il
were the first day Of creation, insects
hum, and all nature Is joyful. II the
change from clouds to brightness Is
manifested so plainly In all things that
live outdoors, why Is 1t that so many
people will persist In shutting up their
houses as II the blessed sunshine carried
a pestilence In Its glorious beams Instead
Of bringing health and comfort.
The cold, chilly, tomb-llke feeling that
these closed rooms always have about
them Il horrible, and my stay In such
places Is as short as possible, IL not
avoided entirely. l have In mind q
house whose sittlng-room ls so situated
that Il has only one window, and that
one Is In the north end Of the room-a
very long room-and In cloudy weather,
or even clear, just think OF II! The
sitting or living room, as well rs the
kitchen, should be the brightest, cheeri-
est room In the house, but i would have
plenty Of light In every room. SO throw
open your shutters. What II few files
do get In; what II the sunshine does
rest on your choice carpets; 1t will be
very likely to rest on good deal OF
dust and c0bwebs, too, that would look
great deal better In darkened room,
no doubt, while the close musty smell
that almost all darkened rooms have IL
certainly the very reverse Of healthy.
Sunshine IL splendid for lnvalids ac-
cording to the above quotation; IL 10
splendid for children. Note the differ
ence In children brought up 10 the cities
when compared with those whose lives
are spent In the fresh air and sunshine
Of the country. The first are generally
pale, languid and delicate, the latter
strong-li climbed, rosy-cheeked, full Of fun
and frollc. Children will always choose
q bright, pleasant room to play 10. Put
q creeping baby on the floor and see
how soon he will make for the spot OF
sunshine lying on the carpet and COO
with delight as he basks In Its warm
beams, wriggling his toes, II barefoot
ed, as content as kitten.
do not think those persons who are
fond Of sunshine ever suffer from fits OF
commonly called the
"blues", for they imbibed 80 much real
sunshine 10 their lives that II IL imp0ssi-
BILE for them to feel gloomy or look sad.
Give me the wsrm.hearted, tunshiny
people for friends, whose coming II al
ways hailed with delight by old and
young, and who are both comfort and
consolation with their quick wit and
lively, jockey ways; who always make
the best Of everything; who think IT q
duty 10 be cheerful; who are beloved by
al In life and regretted by all when
dead.
or our well-known humorous writer's,
I often think they have q really grand
and glorious mission on this earth.
For the person who can write those
things that make his fellow-beings hap
pier, and therefore better, does 20 much
real good as the one who writes Q ser
mon. so let the sunshine In our homes,
and the sunshine Of love In our hearts,
20 that while the one brings us health,
the other will bring us lasting happi-
ness and peace.