Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-11
omnents Matters of Varied Interest Washington Women
FOXWaSSane
ForSpurning
Unobtainable
Best to Cease Yearn-
ing for Things One
Can't Have.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

NEAR boys and girls: l always had
~ great sympathy and understand
ing for the fox who said the grapes
were sour and he didn't want any Of
them anyway. He was a sane phil
osopher and had Uncovered one Of
the secrets OF a happy life. He knew
and let the rest 90 by.
Often I see you making yourself
unhappy because you cannot have
what another child wins without eff
fort. Curly hair, for instance. Why
wish for curly hair when your face
and head demand Straight hair? Any
way, you can't have it. Artistic talent?
Why grieve because another child can
paint or draw or dance or act, while
you can do nothing Of the kind at all
we'll? II you have gift you have
it and If you haven't it that's the
end of it. You cannot have what
nature withheld. Why worry and be
envious and sulky about it?
Suppose you didn't make the frat?
Suppose the girl you wanted went
with the other Fellow TO the oance?
What if the boy you Ike best cannot
see you? There IS little to be done
about such things. All you can do
is to shrug your shoulders and say,
We'll, 1 really didn't want It. 1t
isn't SO much after all" If YOU do
this you will come very near the
truth. What was not meant for you,
what does not fl, your mind or body,
would certainly be sour grapes for you.
Everybody has his gift. That gift
expresses all thar is best in him and
If he cultivates it and uses 1t and
lives by it and with it and for it.
he will own the earth. Your mind
is all there IS Of you. and II your
mind accepts the gift you have as its
expression, you Will know happiness
and success. Ii you keep wanting
what cannot ever NC yours. you will
not be happy nor successful.
One Of our bows writes stories, good
stories full of color End life and ac-
ton, as easily as he breathes. There
Is a story in everything that goes
on about him ana he weaves them
all day long He is a happy boy.
successful in his work. and, of course,
people praise MIN.
His brother grudged him this happi-
ness and sulked until his father ann
mother and teachers were out o:
patience. What's the matter with
you?" he was asked Get busy and
do something yourself and win your
own place. You certainly can do
something beside huddle in a chair
and Sulk' But he sat there ana
scowled and sulked.
One day he was working in the wood
crafts class and he saw the teacher
working a bit of walnut, branch o
an old tree.
What are you doing?" he asked til
teacher.
Making a figure out of this bit Of
/ wood. 1 saw an old monk in it am
I'm going to try to bring him out If
can, but I'm not so good at It,"
Let me try" said the sulker. Il
can see him. I'll get him out"
Sure enough. he carved out the monk
that was in the old walnut branch
and at once everybody praised and
| cheered him. For a few minutes h
smiled and was glad. Then he saw
his brother writing in his book and
at once his face fell He wanted to
write in a book. What was carving
a monk to writing a story about him?
But he learned by and by and found
his happiness in doing the thing he
could do. You can also. Find one
! thing you do well. even if it is only
polishing the tenders of the car. Out
of that beginning something good will
come and you will find the work that
fits your mind. Never mind the other
fellows work. Praise it and go ahead
with your own, because it is only your
own work that will taste sweet in
| your mouth. The others work is sour
grapes to you if you select it as your
| own.
| (Copyright. 1880