The Washington herald., 1913-08-25
BY FRANCES sHAFFER.

1t seems more than a little strange,
does it not, for the inmate of city
almshouse. totally blind and away past
the age limit set for life, to radiate a
wholesome lesson on cheeriness that
ought to be passed along TO some of the
dark corners in the world that are
gloomy largely because there is no one
around with the will and the heart to
brighten them up?
1t was on his eiEhty-ninth birthday
that an old wheelwright at Paterson, n.
J.. whose earning capacity is all in the
past. told Of the simple creed Of life that
keeps him serenely Contented in the
years OF his decline, in spite of the fact
that, as most of us would view it, the
horizon before him is forbidding from ev-
cry viewpoint.
Sitting there in the darkness of unsee-
ing eyes. shut away from old friends and
kinfoIk. and from all that might link him
with thu past. he declares that though
all is blank before him and though the
circumstances that placed him in the
city poor farm five months ago press
bit heavily. still his aim is, as always
before, TO look upon the sunny side Of
life
And he says that those VINO have their
sight and are able to keep at work, earn
ing an honest living should ask nothing
more and should feel that fortune smiles
pretty kindly. He has neither aches nor
pains TO distract him, and the sun is
shining within.
Ofhand, one is inclined to say-not very
much TO help drive and keep the clouds
away. But il is much, very much, to
have Travelled away down the slope Of
life's hill, TO watch the sun set on ones
brightest hopes, TO see ones friends pass
by. to feel the light of the world COM
pletely fade away, to drift TO a public
shelter, and still be able TO say that the
sun is shining within.
Because that is an equisite something
not given to many of lifes wayfarers.
Given? Is it given, or is it patiently ac-
quired?
Ashamed of Advantages.
Perhaps if most of us had the grace to
frankly marshal all the bits Of bright
ness before us. and to compare them, if
ever so lightly. with the pitiful little
showing that some folk must make, we
would feel almost ashamed TO bring out,
one after another. all the advantages
that are ours. and still complain.
The proud possession of seeing eyes
and of faculties at least fairly alert,
glad immunity from physical pain and
the ability, in one way or another. to
nay our way through the 'world-why.
these are just the beginnings. And we
hardly count them at all, at least, not
until they show signs of taking wings.
For there are the kinfolk about us. the
ioIk who are nearest and dearest of all,
and there are the homes which are ours.
Like great many other things that are
not appreciated until they have gone for
ever. We take these mighty advs ntaSes
Tor granted. little thinking what it would
mean II they must be dropped out of our
scheme of living.
And there are the many. many other
things frankly enjoyed, but accepted as
quite natural. with scarcely A thought
Of the sudden emptiness that would iol-
low if they were passed from us into the
keeping of those who never have known
them before.
Yet on the days-and perhaps most of
us have them-when we feel a bit rest
less and tired of just relative happiness,
and when We complain of the sameness
Of things. we look about and wish that
great bursts of sunshine might somehow
creep in.
Eyes strong and we'll? Why, of course.
hut We long to let them take in the ut
termost corners OF the world. We want
to travel and enjoy long looks at strange
faces ana stranger scenes. going about
from one foreign port 10 another. That's
what some folk do, and why shouldn't
We?
The Last of ambition.
Physically mt. quite free from suffering?
Yes. but the very strength of our bodies
urges us on to wish for mightier accom-
phshments and to he dissatisfied with the
PACE we must follow.
All the normal advantages. and a few