The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-09-14
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A MERRY HEART.

day is long. She goes about her work
singing or chatting with anyone who may
come about, and even the broom and scrub
bling brush sound cheerful in her hands.
1've been trying to think what makes this
dear little woman so blithe and winsome.
She has a husband, but what of that? So
have others, but they don't count for much
as merrymakers; many of them are Just as
good and stand for far more than her hus-
band does in the world, and yet their wives
look as if the woes flesh is heir to had
fallen to their lot. She does the entire
work of the family, washing included, and
no cloud of dependence is ever seen on her
brow. She is far away from her own peo-
pie; left her folks, father, mother, brothers,
sisters, cousins, aunts and all fol- a man;
Just think, lost so much to gain so little,
and yet is not gnashing her teeth and wish
ing she had never got married, and making
the house doleful by crying to 90 home to
taste once more of the joys she left To
the outward view, there is no reason why
my neighbor should he in merrier state of
mind than other women. Better dressed
women are all around-women who live in
finer houses, and have more luXurics and
society, and leisure, and yet they cannot
match my little neighbor in womanly
sweetness and cheerfulncss.
She is not ii graduate of any high seat OF
learning, for her young years were spent
helping her mother in household work, vet
she can talk intelligently and publish it
not in the street of Askelon has more orig
inal thought than those-not of my vicinity
who have devoted their prime to gather
ing other peoples ideas while they let their
own rest. AS | can find no reason that is
apparent for the sunny spirit of my neigh
Dor, | am inclined to believe in an outward
manifestation of the grace within. The
heart is right, wisdom is cnthroned therein
it asks but little, and is thankful for so
comes, and it doesn't come so often TO those
who will not help make it. My ncighbor
has learned how to live. "a merry hca, t
maketh cheerful countenancc, says the
good Book, and it lenpthens life, increases
usefulness, and promotes frcside comfort as
we'll would rather live with my little
neighbor in an humble cottage than with
some fine ladies have d,camcd of in II
palace.
1T is guild to be merry and wise.
1t is guild to be honest and true"
and nobody disputes it, Well, then, why
don't folks be that way? There are those
in all walks of life who have nursed mag
mary ills until their countcnancts SAVIOR Of
the vinegar cIuet. Woes that they could
have helped they have not helped, and
those that could not he avoided they have
not shown spirit of resignation and hope
fulness to surmount If it could be thor
oughly understood how brooding over one 5
woes, real or imaginary, Injuries the health,
hlghts the spirits, and drives away friends,
greater exertions would be made for the
Punishment of the "blue devils" that play
such havoc.
Many a man has been driven from his
home in search of more congenial place
on account of a wife he has tried to please
and cannot. Men arc not all so pacific as
was the great Horace Greeley, and cannot
or will not return gentleness for crossness
As he did. The story goes that once upon
a time when gentleman called to see Mr.
Greeley on business, he laid his hat, gloves
and cane upon the parlor table for the mo-
ment he was to remain. He had no more
than been seated and commenced to talk
with the rage of Chappaqua than Mrs
Greeley swept into the room, and without
a word went to the table, swooped on the
gentleman's outfit and threw them out of
the window, and then instantly retired
with an air of having taught Il lesson on
the uses of halls and hat racks. The gen.
tleman naturally felt a title hot ut such
treatment, but Mr.. Greeley set him at ease
by mildly saying: Never mind her, Asa;
she thought they were mine.' There are
many women who have one code of man.
ncrs for their husbands and another and
pleasanter sort for strangers But let them
not he deceived; their habits are known
wherever they are: secret things are bound
to he revealed. Most men resent crossness,
and will not keep a lovers gallantry
through long years of it; ii is Il hard thing
for some of them to do under the hest of
conditions, and it is the height of folly to
sacrifice the triflc they do possess, as gal
lantry is nice thin. to have in a family.
have not a particle of sympathy, how
ever, with the theory that woman must
endure all things and smile on perpctually
for fear some man will feel hurt if she does
not 1t is the better part of wisdom for
both to curb the fiery spirit and assume a
cheeIfulncss they do not feel for the benefit
of the family state. If the heart can not
be improved by efforts in that direction, it
is a depraved condition that human nature
has fallen into. In all ages mirth and
iollity have been esteemed eliXirS of life,
and how and where to seek for fun and
frolic have been subjects of deep interest to