Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-12-28

singular than general caa. ~; ciisning
happiness to others-indeed, the extensive
observance of this custom is significant
mark of our Christian civilization.
PEOPLES of all lands wish. They wish by
the moon. by the stars, by the clouds, by the
birds, by almost every phenomenon. With
some it is at certain periodsin the year, with
others it is daily enjoyment.
Not every wish comes true, just as not
every seed that is planted natures. There
is pretty custom among uncivlllzed trloes
in the orient, wherein fair virgins make llttle
boats with sails, place on the top llghted
candle and put on board cargo OF wishes.
At evening twilight these frail barks are
launched on the doubtful current of the
river. Anxious eyes watch them as they
float away, for if the boat sail out of sight
without overturning and the candle burn
without dying, then will her burden of wish
Is come true, and the dark-faced maiden
will happily wed. Too often, alas, more
often than otherwise, these wishing boats
and their cargoes come to fatetul END and
disappoint the hopes of those who risk them
on the treacherous stream-such is the end
of many wish.
We wish always for things that are good,
but not always do the things that seem to
us good turn out to be so. Perhaps no
greater calamity could come to us than the
getting of every wish. In an ancient Italian
fairy tale Fortunatus, by means of his wish
ing cap, always had full purse, but that
purse proved the ruin of himself and his
sons, result not uncommon in real life to-
day.
We wish happy New Year to othars, not
for its opening days alone, but for all its
days and all its hours, even to when \ the
year is dying; wishes for December as Wel
as May, for May as for January.
We wish that good which is ultimately
good, not that present sweet Mlseh turns
to bitter, but such fruit-s5efows sweeter
with ripening prosnsstyand never knows
decay. ,,kssss
We w1Ssdn1tpiness, buS mean more than
etfnent, and even more than pleasure.
T0 Be amused is the need of children, but
the. high intelligence of man needs more
than amusement for its satisfaction. So
pleasure, if we mean that which pleases,
comes far short of our best wishes. A child
is pleased with fire. and some poisons please
the taste; indeed, many things that please
also harm, and things displeasing often
bring ultimate blessing. Happiness is more
than amusement or pleasure. 1t reaches
deeper into the inner life and is far more
abiding Inward conditions determine hap
piness rather than outward touches. To CAD
about in search of happiness is like doctor
ing blood disease by skin applications.
Thessource of health is in the soul. Happy
are the pure in heart.
There is a picture in one of the galleries of
Europe representing the final judgment of
all men. Among the many figures on the
canvas is one surely meant to be conspicu- !
Gus. He evidently is not saint though he
is among the saints. A study of his face
No r,a hot ;,t+ &c b,,,
he is wretched. He is now seeking to get
out of that Heaven into which formerly he
crowded himself. Then he was sure he
would be happy could he but reach the
place. Now he has learned that happiness
is not a place, but a state. Eden must be in
the heart if the fruits of Eden are to be in
the life.
Let us wish others a happy New Year
but such an one as is here indicated.