Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-05-16
IN the Cheerimg-Up business


When the hard times began last year
it was reported that clever woman de-
clared that if she had to earn her living
she would become general sympathiz-
er," going to any one who wished TO pour
out her troubles and worries, listening
and comforting for fixed sum per hour;
the interviews to be strictly confidential,
and the professional sympathizer never to
allow herself to have pains or trials great
er than those of her client. This seemed
an odd little fancy, as impracticable as
original, until short time ago, when
reading over the lists which a Woman's
Exchange prepares to meet the wants OF
its patrons, the eye fell upon this item ::
"In the cheering-up business. A lady
who has had successful experience will
read to or amuse invalids or GONZALES
cents" Then there is such an occupation,
after all, and one which this lady has
made successful as we'll. How does she
manage her delicate work by what cud-
ningly devised means has she bottled up
the sunshine which carries its brightness
into the lives of those who are strangers
to her 4? and from what founts does she
draw sparkling exhilarating draughts ?
and who, after she has spent her day in
reading and amusing invalids and con-
valescents," cheers her wheen twilight
gives her back to herself?
1t is beautiful and self.effacing occu.
patton, demanding special gift of tact and
sweetness, and calling for keenness Of eye
and quickness of ear, and also, contradic-
torily enough, for certain judiclous
near-sightedness and mental deafness
which can leave unnoticed and unheard
all that tends to mar the perfect harmony
which it is so essential to maintain. Yet
while as means CT gaining livelihood
the business is undoubtedly new, it is
really an old, very old vocation, to
which from time immemorial women
have sponstaneously devoted themselves.
In the home nest, as daughter and sister,
woman learns to express the sympathy
of loving heart, and in the new relations
of wife and mother her opportunities III
crease immeasurably and INCREASINGLY
Upon the so-called weaker partner has
ever fallen the duty of tightening by her
ready responsive cheerlulness the burdens
borne by her lord and master. When
everything downtown goes wrong, home
is made to take on more than its usual at
tracliveness, and the domestic atmosphere
has soothing calm which refeshes the
tired man, whose wife and bairnies are at
their brightest when poor papa comes in.
A married man is more apt to retrieve his
fallen fortunes and reinstate himself more
speedily than the unfortunate bachelor,
whose only comfort is that when he puts
on his hat the whole family is under it !
1t is by no means claimed that women
have a monopoly of this inspiriting, bliss
impariing quality, yet it is always con-
ceded to be such a right womanly tai
ent that the highest compliment that can
be paid to one of the other sex is to liken
his powers of sympathy to those Of ours.
The men whom one must depend on in
the darkest hour of life, when illness and
sorrow and losses depress the most buoy
ant nature, often possess in the highest
degree the power of neutrality-suspicious.,
whose mere presence seems TO bring heal
ing lawyers and clergymen, whose help
glows with the unaffected goodness Of
their sunny natures and others weighted
with the exacting cares Of business life,
who yet have pleasant word and a
bright smile in even the darkest hour Of
their own troubles.
Blessed be all, of whatever age, sex, or
condition, who are Gin the cheeriDg-up
business l"-Harper's Bazar.