The Washington herald., 1914-12-28
KEEP OPEN THE AVENUES
OF JOY.
By oRIsoN SWEET MARDEN.

Author OF Pushing to the Front" Etc.
tCOpyriEht, I9liJ
II wish could sing; I think Id feel
weller then" said little seven-year-Oi old
lad in Bellevue Hospital. New York, while
a surgeon was examining him to hnd
what injuries he had sustained in a fall
into an excavation twelve feet deep.
''An right. laddie, you can sing II you'll
sing something nice" said kind-heatred
DR.. Mclean.
The little fellow began to sing. in a
high, clear. soprano. Nearer. My God to
Thee" As the childish notes rang out,
nurses, doctors and attendants from va
riouS parts OF the hospital began to steal
in until there were fully 100 people in
the room.
Well I guess you are all right. little
man." said the doctor az he finished his
examination; Il can't find any broken
bones"
Il guess it was the singin' that fixed
me-" replied the boy. Il always sing
when I feel bad
II We grown-uPs would do as this little
chap did-sing when We feel bad" no
matter what our loss or misfortune or
trouble-we would certainly feel weller" d"
II We cannot always 50 control our
moods as to be really happy. we can al
ways appear cheerful. This is a duty we
owe ourselves and society. II is a sin
10 go about radiating mental poison. the
poison OF disCouragement, of gloom. the
poison Cf worry and anxiety II is weak
TO go about the world wearing mourning
in our exprt ssion. 1t is a sin to peddle
this gloom and despOndencv. We owe II
10 the world and to ourselves 10 scatter
sunshine; to appear at our best, not at
our worst 1t is even more harmful to
ourselves than 10 others 10 20 about
wearing a funereal expression.
No matter what disCOuraEemcnt or dis
appointment you may be struggling with.
cover IL, hide it, bury IL: always wear
cheerful face. Don't hang out the black
faE: hoist bright and cheerful colors.
Just say To yourself Whatever mLsfOr
tune comes to me, II cannot conquer my
indominahle spirit. No matter what sor-
row may be gnawing at my heart. l will
60 through the word with a good front.
with a cheerful face No one shall ever
say that l am pessimist or a weaklIng.
that l have 'souTed on life"
We laugh at the story Of GullIver the
giant being held down by an army Of
LiIiipUtians. but most OF us are tied
down by Lillputians so tiny that we
ignore them and are often unconscious
that We are SO hampered. Bound hand
and foot by multitude Of little worries,
anXieties. v-xations. doubts, fears, sell
cloggcd that there is no admission for
the good that is all around us and con-
stantly seeking 10 move in our direction.
There is no sunshine for those who
persist in keeping their shutters barred"
said Theodore Cuyler. Joy is not gained
hv asking for il. but only by acting for
it," II We want to he happy We must
throw down the bars that keep sunshine
and Cheerfulness out Of our lives We
must keep clear our avenues of JOY. or II
cannot enter our souls.
Most OF US are practically deaf to the
marvellous beauties that are Seeking ad-
mttance TO our minds from the COM
mOnest everyday sources. PreocCupation
in our troubles real or ina aGinary, or dis
satisfaction with our life's portion shuts
US out from enjoyment OF the most beau
tlfUl and wonderful things in the uni
verse. things that money could never
buy, but which are free to all. prince
and peasant alike. Yet these things were
all planned for our enjoyment. AS that
beautiful poet soul Lucy LaTCom says.
He who turns the world upon its axis,
So as to cause the changes of the sea-
sons. meant US to receive some new hap
pInesS from every one of them. He hath
made everything beautiful in its time
and, If We were as grateful as lie is
good. how would the seasons one and all
ring with hymns OF thanksgiving"
There is no other thing in life which
pays so well to cultivate as heart sun
shine, or in other words a sunny dispo-
sitiOn. a cheerful outlook upon life, a
mental attitude that keeps the avenues
OF JOY always wide open. 1t is the most
wonderful of physicians, for it heals all
ills and affords balm for all the sOrTowS
and misfOTtunes of life.