Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-12-26
HAS L|FEs SECRET
Humble ToAer Realizes That
Happiness Has Its Origin in
the Grateful Heart.

iampshades. With her father and
younger sister she lives in two rooms
on Second avenue. The father Is an
invalid. The younger sister Is in
school. Annie Ia seventeen. When
she began to work she made IS. She
was fourteen then.
Monday evenings. after the dinner
dishes have been cleared away, the
house tidied UP and father made as
comfortable az possible, Annie washes
the white clothes. Tuesdays she col
ored clothes; Wednesdays she irons,
Thursdays she sews and mends, Fri
days she scrubs and cleans. Satur-
days and Sundays she studies, for she
is working toward an ideal; she Is
preparing herself, to make more
money that father may have the care
Of a specialist.
I visited the little rooms near
Thanksgiving time. Annie was mend
ing. With a happy smile she greeted
me, while her long, slim fingers bust.
ly piled a needle she gave me OF the
treasures of her little girl heart. And
as she talked, all the shabbiness fell
from her worn garments, all the pow
erty of the room was obscured. Even
the whitened, withered, suffering old
man, lying so still and helpless on
cot in the corner, seemed to glow and
expand under Armies enthusiasm
cheer.
"Yes, every night on my knees, l
give thanks to my creator for Nfe,'
she said, with her dark, haunting eyes
eyes full on me. II am so glad to be
alive. / am so thankful to have my
work awaiting me when get up in the
morning! l am so glad to have sister
and-father! That is the secret OF
happiness, think. Something to work
for, but, mostly, somebody to work
for.
why, here father waiting for
me every night when come home.
And there's sister going to school and
passing her examinations the very
highest in her class. Isn't that fine?
And both of them needing me all the
time. Isn't that still finer? And there
am I, making the most beautiful lamp
shades to delight the hearts of women,
to make homes glow with light and
cheer, adding my mite to the worlds
beauty and pleasure.
Il don't know why people are ever
unhappy or miserable when they can
find beautiful work to do, somebody
to work for. When l have done at the
shop and finished the evening tasks
at home there is always something
else waiting for me; somebody besides
my own folks needing me. Maybe a
neighbor is pining away for friendly
word. Pretty crowded here and there
are many neighbors, you know. Maybe
one of the girls in the shop needs a
boost. Maybe somebody near me
doesn't know what to do next. Oh.
there. are so many, many people to do
for, and doing for them brings such
happiness.
1T is so wonderful to give them
from your heart. OF course, that is all
I have to give. But l believe that 1t
doesn't matter much about the body
If the spirit is brave. Don't you? l
believe that it helps people more to
give them something of yourself than
something to eat, or money, some
times. So many people uho are fed
and clothed starve for little warmth,
a little response, maybe a little love.
So many make misstepS just for the
lack of little encouragement along
the way; maybe only smile.
Il think we should give thanks
every day for the privilege OF work. l
do not see how people can be unhap-
py when God has given them such a
big world to make good and such a lot
Of people to work for. And l think If
you are happy, you should help others
to be happy. From the tiniest deed
sometimes great things grow. A little
boost, little help at the right time,
has made many a crooked life straight.
Let people know you believe in them,
If you want to really aid them. Show
them little of your heart.
Thanksgiving means to share all
the good things that come to you. It
means doing some helpful thing for a
neighbor in his name. 1t means to be
a friend to the friendless in his name.
It means to dream beautiful dreams
for others. And then, when, sometimes
the dreams come true for them, oh,
what happiness! What thanksgiv-
ing! Just now I am dreaming for
papa; dreaming that some day he will
be we'll and strong again. Isn't that a
sweet dream?"
When l had regretfully said good
night to Annie, went away thinking,
thinking deeply of the little creatures
that live under my docrsteps, eat my
crumbs, come when I call. She had
made me remember that I could do
something for somebody. somewhere,
in his name, not only on the great
Thanksgiving day, but every day:
Let US give thanks for our sweet,
patient, trusting, brave little Armies
and their responsive human hearts,
Buffalo Express.
Escaping Danger.
While visiting his nephew in the