The Washington herald., 1911-01-08

he turned over all to his creditors "Ev-
erything gone" he moaned. THE work
of a lifetime swept away" His brave
wife put her arms around his neck and
! said: why no. John: you have me and
the children left" God bless you.
Mary. A cheerful wife is better than a
bank account said John. So again
they prospered The demon despair can
never lurk where faith, hope. \and love
abide. Mrs c. E MCLAUGHLIN.
''The meaning Of optimism?" Know you
what you ask
When you make this request? Indeed
| It's task
That would take one lifetime. and
then 'twould be vain
To hope from mere wording the meaning
| to gain.
This word, so inclusive in its thought
and its deed,
ContainOthe supply to every ones need
Only through conduct can its virtue be
| known
Words may seem meaningless. but this
| certain tone
or optimist brotherhood carries more
worth
Than any known sound throughout all
the earth.
To the discouraged and sad it brings
hope and relief:
Its companionship heals the sad mourn
| er's grief.
To the one who is wearied while doing
| his best
1t breathes its sweet peace and its COM
| forting rest.
Not only in principle is its meaning
| found,
But in actual doing its works more
Breathes there a trembling life IN need
of aid,
Quickly the voice is heard. BE not
! afraid
Trust the All-good, there is nothing to
fear,
'The spirit of optimism always is near"
Search for it where no grumbling is
See it reflected in kindliest tone
! life,
Teach it to those who are overcome by
| strife
Uniting. ennobling. enriching each soul.
The good of all controlling the whole.
NINA VERA HUGHES.
! I think an optimist is many times one
without being aware of it, for one who
; is given to charity not only from whA is
given from his possessions, but it is the
good thoughts which you impress upon
others from what you have assisted
4 them. 1t is like an endless chain, never
to be broken.
As another year has passed and We
have been reminded by His birth what
was to be in store for us. we should fol-
! low His lovely life and be passed on
through His years until His sufferings by
which We have been taught to believe
for our eternal lives. The sermon op<ehe
mount, and the parallels, by which he
! illustrated what He would hate us to do
After the recall of what has happened
| in the last year l trust we will be able to
| do more in the year which We are be-
ginning. Our Master has said the poor
you will have always with you. 1t is not
the blessing which We should enjoy, but
| what we have made others happy. For
| il is more blessed to give than to re-
| ceive.'' Miss MARY c. wHELAN.
There was oEce man who smiled
Because the day was bright,
Because he slept at night,
Because God gave him sight
To gaze upon his child;
Because his little one
Could leap and laugh and run,
Because the distant sun
Smiled on the earth, he smiled.
He smiled at the fair sky.
So taf above his head.
Because the rose was red,
Because the past was dead.
He never wOndred why
The Lord had blundered SO
That al! things have to go
The wrong way here below
That everlasting sky.
He toiled and still was glad
Because the air was free,
Because she loved, and she
Who claimed his love, and he
Shared all the joys they had.
Because the grasses grew,
Because the soft winds blew,
Because that he could hew
And hammer he was glad.
Because he loved and smiled
And did not look ahead
With bitterness or dread,
But nightly sought his bed
As calmly as q child.
Some people called him mad
For being always glad
With such things as he had.
But he held what they had missed
He was an optimist.
Optimism. the happy consciousness Of
the power that doeth all things well, the
sunny Interpretation Of life which looks
to the ultimate triumph Of good over
evil. is born of life in the obedience to
that first and second great command
ment, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart and soul and mind
am thy neighbor as thyself." It Is to
walk the earth hand in hand with faith
and charity, to see ever the star Of hope
shining about US. and to know the goal
Of success Is not in the dim. unattain-
able distance. but. on the contrary. lies
close at hand. to be gained BY obeying
tho Unborn impulse for good. One cannot
be an optimist and live unto himself. He
n:ust work In thought and deed to spread
the gospel Of good cheer and thus root
out the disintesrating forces Of pessi-
mism. Optimism looks for light, health.
ana strength and takes hope for his
watchword, optimi.m naeans g sse con-