The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1916-09-08
Scatter Your Flowers as You Go.
By oRIsoN SWEET MARpEN.


Cheering by the Hour" was the novel heading
of advertisement l once read in leading
metropolitan daily. The advertiser desired en-
ployment to cheer the nervous and lonesome, to
read to and amuse invalids, elderly people and
children.
Now this is an occupation that demands no
trainng-only the employment of tact and the
exercise of heart and mind-and it offers IN
limited opportunities for service. How many
people may be made to forget their worries and
fears by the professional or the amateur cheerer
lup!
Whatever our vocation we can be in the
cheering-up business This may be great side
line; all carry it on. 1t costs little to
cheer people by the way to scatter our flowers
Of joy and gladness and helpfulness as we go
along, and should not fail to do. this; fol-
we never again shall go over exactly the same
road. 1t costs but little effort to say kind
word, to give kindly greeting to the newsboy,
the elevator boy, the scrubwoman, or the janitor,
and it is worth everything We are all the time
| coming in contact with people who would be
cheered by smile or pleasant word
A newsboy in New York told me recently
that he has one woman customer who makes
his whole day seem brighter, pleasanter and his
work easier because of her cheerful smile and
kind greeting she buys her morning paper
on her way to business.
People who radiate sunshine have a faculty
of turning the common water of life into the
most delicious wine. Their CHEEKY salutation and
their coming into home like the coming
Of the morning after long, dark night. Their
smile acts sad heart like magic. 1t dispels
the fogs of gloom and despair as the dspels
the mists and the miasma which hang a
stagnant swamp. These sunshine characters are
public benefactors. They the unpaid boards
of health who look after the public welfare.
Nobody but himself may be helped by the
money millionaire; but everybody is enriched
who knows comes in contact with the million
aire of good cheer, and the more he gives Of his
wealth the more it mutiples 1t is like the
seed put into the soil-the more one sows the
greater the harvest.
To be able to laugh away trouble is greater
fortune than to possess the mines of King Solo
mon. 1t is fortune. too that is within the
reach of all who have the courage and nobility
of soul to keep their faces turned to the light
Children should be brought up with the idea
that life is beautiful gift, and that they should
always rejoice and be glad They should be taught
that they the children of the King of Kings
that happiness and success their birthright,
and that there is nothing to be sad or gloomy
about.
sweet old lady was asked the secret of her
perpetual cheerfulness.
81 think" she replied at is because we were
taught as children to be cheerful always, es-
pecially at table My father was lawyer with
large criminal practice; his mind was harrassed
with difficult problems all day long, yet he al
ways came to the table with a smile and a
pleasant greeting for every one, and exerted him
self to make the meal hour delightful. All his
powers to charm freely given to entertain
his family. Three times a day we felt this
genial influence and the effect was marvellous
If child came to the table with cross looks,
he or she quietly sent away to find a good
boy or girl, for only such were allowed to come
within that loving circle. We were taught that
all petty grievances and jealousies must be for
gotten when mealtime came, and the habit Of
being cheerful three times a day, under all cir
cumstanceS, had its effect on even the most
sullen temper. Grateful as l am for all the
training received in my childhood home | look
back upon the table influence as among the best
Of my life"