Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-09-10
NUMBER 16.
Cheerful Labor.

iho ndTueSt tdSk Is maze easy
when 1t can be done cheerfulIy.
The willing worker thinks only of
the labor in hand and finds pleasure
in doing it. The unwilling worker
Is dissatisfied and renders himself
unhappy by vain regrets.
Although these are the merest
truisms known of all men, the
knowledge is not always turned to
useful account. If the labor we all
have to perform may be made
either source of pleasure or of dis
comfort, we should surely take some
pains to learn how to work cheer
fully.
That is one of the reasons why
care should be taken in choosing an
occupation. Unless we are interes-
ted In our work we cannot do it well,
nor can we go to it day by day with
a cheerful disposition. Nor can we
work cheerfully, even at a congo
NAL occupation, unless we have be-
come habituated to labor regularly.
Much of the happiness or unhsppi-
ness OF our lives depends upon the
habits we form when we are young,
and happiness comes not to those
who pursue pleasure, but to those
who learn to carry within them
selves a cheerful and contented dis
position.
The pleasure-seeker must have
change and excitement-he cannot
content himself with q dull routine
OF work; but the great majority are
required by force of circumstances
to labor daily, and, therefore, it is
the part of wisdom to learn to work
cheerfully and to seek pleasure in
labor.
There are other pleasures to be
found in life, but they will be ap-
preciated more keenly if they have
been earned. To realize this it is
only necessary to note the Zest with
which the cheerful worker enters
upon brief holiday, and the lam
guild air of his fellow, who, on the
same occasion seeks an outing, but
to whom the holiday has no signifi-
canoe because his indulgent parents
permit him to live in idIeness.
The well-to-do often envy their
poorer neighbors because of the keen
appetites of those who work hard
and have few luxuries; they have
as much reason to envy the cheer
ful worker to whom q holiday Is q
great event.
The hours that most people can
give to so-called pleasure are few in
number compared to the hours they
must give to work, and their happi-
ness will be greatly increased If
they can learn to labor .cheerfully.
This Is largely matter of mental
habit and the young should start
right In forming habits. The first
thing to learn ia promptness in be-
gining a task. The more one stops
to consider about going to work the
moro distasteful the idea becomes.
There Is no trouble about getting
out OF bed in the morning when one
is called, provided the summons Is
instantly obeyed. But it becomes
more and more difficult to get up
the longer one lies in bed thinking
about it., So also there iss no
trouble about going to work of any
KIND II one starts at the appointed
time, instead of lingering and
making vain effort to postpone the
beginning of the days labor.
GOOD habits having been formed
in the matter of starting, activity
and earnestness in doing the work
Will shut out idle thoughts and en-
able one to do the appointed task
cheerfully. Idleness is the parent
OF many 'vagrant thoughts; the
cheerful worker becomes so intent
upon his task that he thinks of moth
ing else. Cheerful labor has in this
good moral influence, and every
one should therefore endeavor to
acquire such habits as will make
work source of pleasure.-Bati-
more Sun.