The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-11-10
THE. OPTlMIST
BY c. L. HINTON.

AhC AAkAiAS IL II VINO HOOKS A.
the bright side OF things. who ma
tests a cheerful attitude of mind VIZ
all seems dark. He has his trouhf..
like all others, but doesn't go arourt
telling them to all he meets. inst.
he has a pleasant smile and kfr3
word. which hghtens the burden
many a heart bowed with sorrow
You feel better every time YOU u.-,
him.. and if all were like him yo.-
troubles would Don vanish We gs~.
orally find in people the qualities q.
possess; like attracts like. and II H..
are bright and cheerful towards tr-
world the same Will be sent back
us.
C~heerfufness is very much a uart.-
of disposition, but it is ais somerh#+
that can be cultivated like any orr.
habit. How much better TO form rt.
habit OF being optimistic. of seeing tr.
silver lining to the cloud. than t.
about with a long face complaint.
Of "a luck and hard times. ii We t.
not cultivate this habit of cheerf
ness, of seeing the good and overlo0#
ing the bad. there will be no heaar.
and fragrance in flowers, no armom
in music. no pleasure in the pratr.4
of little children. and life Will h.,
dull and ~listless affair.
When Jeremy Taylor had lost an h.
said: II have fallen into the hands Ii
anu dlo1S. anu 3DEN
have taken all from me. what now
Let me look about me. They have Itft
me the sun and moon, a loving VIII.
and many friends to pity me. Thy
have not taken from me my merry
countenance and my cheerful spIrI.
and a good conscience: they have
still left me the providence Of Coo.
and all the promises of the Gospel
and my religion, and my hopes si
heaven
No misfortune can dampen the Spiri
of such a man as this. 1t is astonlsh-
ing what little comfort some people
who profess to be Christians too. g,t
out of their religion. 1t should Dr..
the most %consoling thing in thv
world, enabling us to bear the air.
rows and sings of an outrageous loI-
tune with patience and resignation
Cheerfulness is a wonderful aid {"
the hard working man, enabling hin.
to recruit his strength and exhausted
energies, while worry and discomfort
debilitate them. 1t is the bright
weather Of the heart melting all the
GOODNESS about it, and causing it t..
. send out thoughts of love and kind
, ness to all.
Temper" once said a bishop. u,
, nine-tenths of Christianity" \ dr-
! IvotiOnal writer, in answer to the QleS-
ton, How are we to overcome temp
5 t~ations'? said: "Cheerfulness is the
3 first thing, cheerfulness is the second
\ lc~heerfulness is the third" The best
$ cordial of ALL" said a doctor to his
s patient, lis cheerfulness." solomon
said "a merry heart doeth good like
a medicine" I believe that the ma.
jority of people had much rath.
;, trade at a store where the owner iii,
: clerks are cheerful and polite, al
though they have to pay more fol
y their sugar and coffee, rather thar
t deal at a place where they are eros
g and Indifferent. The difference yol
: pay in price is made up by the bit o.
sunshine you get and the CHEEKY con.
versation which makes you feel bette
for many hours afterwards.
n 1t is a duty We owe to ourselves an(
s to all those about US to be cheerfu
and hopeful amid all the varied eT
periences of this earthly existent"
All of US have our trials, and dari
S days when everything seems to ~
IS wrong and nothing will sustain as f.
s much as a cheerful optimistic spirit
It The optimistic man is full Of th
milk Of human kindness and IT,
love which is the inspiration of life
r beauty and harmony. Blessed be tn
optlmist wherever he is or WhOeNe
# he may be. The light he sheds com.
n from a great soul and illumines ~
way for many a poor mortal strug
ling along 1ife's stony paths.
Catch the sunshine, don't be grIev
ing
IS Ger the darksome billoW there.
n Llfe's a sea of stormy pillows,
We must meet them everywhere
IF Pass right through them. do not IF.
Overcome the heaving tide,
IL There's a sparkling CLEAN OF sunshN-
Waiting on the other side"
=, 65-CENT ROOSTER COSTS HIM 81