Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-09-06

OF some pleasing sensation. and. rising
to its stimulus, we fall afterwards into
the reaction Of misery Happiness is
the poise, calm, strength and spring of
the life fully in harmony with all things
good and true
Nothing praises God better than a
happy disposition. Many have thought
to give Him glory by learned treatises
on His majesty and mystery But lit
tie child, so happy that he only can
kick and crow, pleases the Almighty
more effectively and even devoutly than
does the theologian who only can offer
his bloodless speculations.
The great Father gives His children
a world brimmfng over with joy, with
laughing meadows, with smiling morns,
with ripping bird song, and to man He
gives faculties of unreasonable happi-
ness. Life Is learning the law of happi-
ness and practicing It's use and service
But what is the secret Of happiness
How can we learn to be happy when
life has so much to make US sad? The
praise Of happiness does not take away
the fact of sorrow or solve its dark
problem. There remain the million ach-
Ing hearts and all the griefs of q world.
True. God forbid that we should lose
our sorrows; that were to make this a
sad world indeed. Our cares are but
part Of joys curriculum. Learning
their lesson, bearing their load is essen
tial to deep, lasting happiness.
1t is not the life of the butterfly ex-
perience that is firm, calm, serene in
times Of storm and stress. 1t is the life
that by loads of care has been forced
to strike it's roots down to the rocks.
There are some lives that seem to run
over with a happiness that Is full of
refreshing to all who know them, and
these have come out of great tribula-
ton.
At first the multiplication table is a
burden; later, when mastered, it be-
comes a wonderful bearer Of burdens.
To wear a careworn, fretful look, to
go through life shedding misery, is to
confess that we have not learned our
lesson, that we are ounces in life's
school.
The secret of happiness is grasping
the significance Of living, to learn that
we live for things other and higher
than those mad follies and fading
prizes for which men sell their bodies
hearts. No man can be happy whose
heart is set on the changing fashion of
things or who looks for satisfaction in
things.
The lover is happy because he has
discovered a prize and is enthralled by
a pursuit that makes all other things
seem mean and paltry. Men are happy
in proportion as they yield themselves
to the best, as they tune their hearts
to strike the key of their lives. Paul
is happier in the dungeon, where he can
be true to his ideal, than Nero on the
throne without one.
There is feast in days Of famine for
those who have the inner eyes for. the
riches Of life You always can find In
this world what your heart is looking
for. But you cannot satisfy your heart
on everything you may chance to find
and until the heart Is satisfied and the
deeper needs of the life are met there
is no happiness.
The search for happiness Is not alto
gether selfish. Few things can we do
that will help others more than the
cultivation of serene strength and cheer
in ourselves. Not the soulless, set smile,
but the strength and sympathy that
flow from life fixed in confidence in
eternal right and good and unfailing
love