Middletown transcript., 1894-06-16


Our environment has less to do wit
happiness than We think. The i'm
portant question is whether we hav
the necessary element within the hear
and if that is decided in the affirmatil
it makes but little difference what ou
surroundings are.
1t is hard to believe this, for we arr
living in an age of show and sham'
nd display. In the decalogue of moderr
society the first law read, Thou shall
worship no other god but gold. VIZ
spend our lives In scramble for cash
and prove that we have succeeded by
an exhibition which is little less than q
personal advertisement, and the object
of which is to excite envy and stimu.
alate avarice.
But we are making a colossal blunder
Happiness comes not from the pocket
but from the heart. 1t cannot be cre-
ated by wealth nor destroyed by pov-
erty, Where love is there is content
ment, and when love is perfect mere
surroundings are regarded with some
thing like disdain. 1t is when the
heart is not is not satisfied that the
nature of the environment assumes
undue Importance. Two rooms will do
if nothing better can be had, when
love would build home, but the pal.
ace is too small when the heart is ach-
ing. A rag carpet on your floor and a
single flower in blossom on the window
sill, if contentment sits at your lireside
are better than splendor, with distrust
or suspicion as yout guest.
Here, then, you have two facts
which you must meet.
First there is no life that is not bur-
dened wish grief. 1t is a hopeless
task to search for one, for it will never
be found. This grief may come in any
one Of q thousand shapes, but in some
shape it comes to all of US. Its mission
is to teach us that there is One who
is wiser than we, and to search until
we find Him.
There is nothing in all the world
that draws us to heaven so gently and
yet SO irresistibly as the sense helpless
ness. Make life a round OF pleasure
and the Lords Prayer would never be
But the smitten soul seeks
shelter, as the frightened child rushes
into its mothers arms: We may not
understand why this is So. but true it
is that the best elements of human
character have been developed by sor-
row rather than success.
Second the happiness Of life must
greatly come from the way you look
at life. If you jot down things but
cannot have it is easy to make your
self miserable. You can be envious
until you become morbid and melan-
choly. If you believe that in being |
poor or afflicted you have been robbed of |
your right no ray of sunshine will fall |
on your pathway.
A man may look at nature through |
smoked glass, and can uss smoked |
lass when looking at himself and his |
DO but reckon your
instead of your miseries, and |
have the weight you carry. Form the
habit of looking for silver lining 10 |
every cloud and the cloud itself will |
seem less dark. Some can be happy |
with farthing candle, while others
mourn under the glare of an electric
light.
And religion comforts and consoles
because it furnishes cheerful view
If every change that comes. There
s no hard fsted and relentless Fate,
,ut a Father in the upper air. 1t is
lot chance that robs us of the loved
me, but Providence, which does what
S best whether we will or no. Slender
means are not the synonyms of misery,
or this worlds goods are not to be
with the other worlds goods.
(on may have the earth and yet have
othing; but if you have heaven you
ave everything, and no man can take
away.
Therefore, recognize the fact that
ou are to have disappointments and
orrows, but make The best of them,
nd Of them only to your best Friend4
Believe that there is light even in
arkness, and look for it till you find it.
lake your life great and noble by
making your soul noble and great.
hen you will be glad that you have
ived and many will be sorry when you
On. Y. Herald.