The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-10-25
CAN WE BE HAPPY:

Put h. that tecpeth the law hailE :
ne.-Iroycrbs, NlN i.
In what way can You extract rom
vonr e1periencss the greatest amount OF
happiness:
Which Of the many poSslhle mental 1t,
titudes toward life Will furnish ina hllo
~ 4risfaction which makes a man con-
tented and gives him the good cheer OF
encouragement:
know there are some stern ana severe
reIirionists who will tell me that happl-
moss j not one of the important objects
- ha sought. They assert that life Is !;
continuous discipline, a preparatory DIS
cinIine. which IS certainly true. and that
the issues If stake are 50 momentous
that we must pursue them with lear
! and ~trembling.' and that, 1t seems 10
! me, is a great mistake.
If * happiness YOU mean simply pleas
IRE and include what IS c~atalogued under
the word dissipation. then there VIII Sc
no difference Of opinion between Us.
Life is too grand a lift to be bartered tor
the excitement which leave 4 sung Il
phvsicial pain or moral regret behind.
But II by happiness You refer to that
serene and enyiable state OF mn which
the traveller enjoys. who has had Q nara
climb. IS Worn and weary. but VINO sIs
at the summit. views the broad land
scane. the roaring torrents far below.
the Fleeing clouds far above. and fees
that the journey IS worth moro than
the trouble to make It. then | say TIL
hannineSs is quite worth YOUR while to
seek. and to leave it out Of he list Of
human experiences is theolOglcal!y 4
hlunder and officially 4 crime.
When | was n boy in the country
school | learned the meaning of the
word diScipline. The teacher was in my
boyi>h eyes one Of the great ones Ct
the earth. and his frovn Of displeasune
afTrighted me more than once. tie
strictly adhered to the policy Of Solo
mon and refused to spoil the child by
sparinc the rod. I looked upon him with
comminGled respect and fear.
l had the experience both of happiness
and pleasure. During the short half
hour Of recess each morning. and also
in the two half holidays Of the week.
vhen we were let loose upon the green
to engage in such games as boyhood de-
lights in. my pleasure was unbounded.
Life seemed very beautiful and the
world 4 heavenly place To live IN. But
vhen it came to me that my studies were
fitting me. hard as they were. for tn"
career which even then [ had chosen.
and when. with this ideal before me. I
ap0lied myself TO my lessons 50
sturdily that I WAS master of them. then
I enjoyed something deeper and sweeter
than pleasure. for | was happy. ] had
no fear Of the teachers rod. but faced
him with the proud consciousness that
my work was we'll done.
Now. life may not afford the pleasure
90 -lo ,,.lrr ~ n. hole holiday Int =
Will furnish a degree Of happiness if
you have done the best YOU can with
it. | know that during mauy days aud
months and years We are at work IN
the grist mill. turning the upper ana
lower millStones, and / know that we
sometimes hlve such 9 longing TO Get
away from it all that we grow de>rer-
ate. but when we look at what We have
accomplished. not for ourselves. perhaps.
but for others. and without conceit de-
clare that we have done well. when we
measure the fine flour of honesty ana
claim endurance and resignation. ana
the strong qualities of character which
we have ground ont of the corn Of cir
cumstance and adverse environment, is
there not in the soul 4 feeling which the
word pleasure does not Indicate. but
which neStles under the word happiness.
even as the chickens nestle under the
wings of the hen:
We cannot be continuously happy. for
that is impossible in this lower world.
There are too many struggles. too many
hardshipS. too many sorrows lying in
ambush. Eyes We're made for tears as
we'll ~ joyful glance>. But what 4
bouudles> satisfaction follows the temp
ution resisted or the heavy burden
bravely borne. Does life furnish any
thing that can be compared with It:
You know when You have lone your
work Grandly. and YOU should give your
self the praise for it.
The soldier who with his comrades
storms the enemy'> fort on the brow OF
the hill has a terrible task. but Is it not
also glorious: Every upward step re-
quireS courage. His body and soul are
taxed TO the utmost limit Of their
resources. Nevertheless. when he reach
eS the top Of the hill and plants his
country'S flag there. though he he coy
cred with the CRIME Of battle and his
heart i almost broken with fatigue. he
looks down into the valley from which
he started with the feeling that the morn
ing has >hone with 4 glory Of which
he never before conceived. He has been
loyal. and true. and unflinchinc. and be
has 4 right to say 50 10 himself. since
he knows that the angels are saying
50 in the realms above.
This is the true way to look at life.
and II you can occupy that standpoin.
YOU will have more satisfaction in your
work and become more contented with
your lot. l verify believe that It is the
vantage ground from which the Chris