The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-12-24
Happiness.
From the Commercial Appeal

Happiness.
From the Commercial Appeal
Happiness is state of mind. 1t is not
something we inherit, nor something we
may pick up for a trifle at bargain
counter.
You can buy it, but the price is paid, not
in the coin of the realm, but in the un-
minted coin of faithful service. For we
are all servitors, even the richest of US,
servitors in the workshop of the great Gre
ator, where every day souls are being
fitted for eternity. Consciously or uncon-
sciously we are all givers and takers, buy
ers and sellers in that worldwide market
place. We may call the market-master
good or i'll luck, or fate, or by that higher
appellation of Providence It does not so
much matter which name we choose, ex-
cept that if we accept the last we are apt
to be cleaner handed in the service that
we offer and whose return comes back to
US in the golden cruise of content.
And that service that wins for US this
chrism of happiness?
1t has a thousand forms-a helping hand
where the way is steep; cherry word for
the sad of face; square deal to one who
is in our power; the warning word where
we may speak it; the absorbing of no.
body's credits, but the just acknowledge
ment of another's WORTH the cheerfulness
in the home; the self control in the bust
ness world; the compassion for another's
weakness; the smile we give friend or
the coin we throw to beggar
These are some of the things that are the
wages of happiness, some of the things
which bear the impress of no dollar mark,
but which make up the currency for which
we exchange that state of mind called hap
piness which is the peace that passeth all
understanding.
The world is as vass chess board where
men and women are the bits of carved
ivory. To the Player who made
the game there are no superfluous figures !;
from king and bishop and knight, down to
the humblest pawn, there is niche to fill,
and each must do its part or the game is
marred. After all is said and done, the
goal Of the game is happiness, and all must
play fair or somebody loses.
1t is an Elusive quality-this thing that
we call happiness. 1t is so easy to win
through the medium of the right exchange,
it is so easy to lose through the false cur
rency Of injustice and lack of fairness and
helpfulness and sympathy.
Life is full of changes and vicissitudes.
Some of US go ''all the way to happiness
and half way back again. some of us
attain the goal and hold on to it; some OF
US faIter and fail in the quest, and hun
grily watch others flash by to the winning
But we may all know this: that some
where in the book Of final things it is writ
ten on the debit or credit side of the ledge,
whether we offered the right currency fol
the prize, or whether our bid was made ir
the spurious coin Of selfishness.
And if it was the first, then all is we'll
even if sorrows tears have dripped or
some of Iife's pages. But if it is the latter
! then have we failed indeed, for every
mans happiness is knit to the happiness
of some one else; and if we spoil our owr
chance we also despoil friend.
And one of these days, in the last ane
final accounting, that cheated friend viii
be our sternest accuser, our most uncom
| promising witness in the court from which
there is no appeal. That cheated friene
may be an ill-used wife, a neglected moth
err, an unrequited father, an ill-governet
child; whoever we sacrificed here will
2 stand stonily at the end OF the race, wait
r ing for US with reproachful eyes. There i
no royal path to happiness over the broker
hearts of our fellow travellers.
For no life runs in a separate groove
| we do no work entirely apart, we play NJ
D game alone, we walk no road quite by our
$ selves. Always there go with US, step TO
: step, the chances and fortunes of another
and whether we help or whether we ma
: these other chances and fortunes is tn
real test of that service by which alone W
: can buy the laughter of life.
g - .----