Year: 1861

! - - WIN uOW many are dlSaf
IecIeu VIVA themselves and lot how many
untouched by an outward calamity are min
ing away with secret unrest aud how few
seem TO enjoy life as q cd intended. No
that Nod lntCndend our life to be one n
unOrokcn enjoyment, as our childish fame,
IS apt TO paint it. But neither did he in
tend 1t to be one of unbroken discomfort. n,
our rlper characters are apt to make it
There is reason to believe that a much lar
ger share Of happiness than most men real
ize, was Intended in the human constitution
and Is lost to US only by fault of our
! own.


IL Is impossible to look upon nature and
not believe that happiness is the true and
! normal condition of man. Nature knows
no care OnconcIouS nature reioiceS ever.
more.


The bIackbrd in the summer trees.
Inc lark upon the hill


Let loose their carols when tbev pIeosn


Are quiet when they will.
With nature never do they ware
n foolish strife, they see


hqlpy youth, aud their old age


Is beautiful aud free


Man alone with his conscious life, pre-.
sentS strong contrast with the universe
ABOUT MIN careworn, anxious sorrowing
creature, IN ocaming and happy world
why, OF all beings, apparently the least en-.
Joyment ! Nature has dealt with him. as
with no other but he alone departs from
nature ana violates the laws of bis being.


Our HE Is unnatural we are at war with
ourselves for our house of rest striving
after lmposSlblities, aud neglecting the good
which blossoms in our poth Our eyes are
IN the ends Of the earth. We sigh


For the far of, the unattained and dim"


We are fevered with sick ambition,
which makes all common things distastefu
and irksome. 1t is sad to see how widely
this unrest prevails how all classes and
conditions spartake OF its poison. Our young
men are not content with homely cullings
and gradual winnings, but rush to the out
side OF the world in quest Of gold Young
women are not content with the natural
food of household affections, but seek in So
clal excitement and the qualifications of
vanity, zest which home will not supply.
Good people are not content with the noise.
less discharge of every day duties, but seek
in agitation an intenser life. Al hands are
stretched out after the distaut, the uncer-
tain while to each, in tho capabilities of
his own sphere, is given good which no
other can estimate and no frution ex.
hauSt.


1t may be said that this reaching forth
and striving after distant aims is our true
calling aud proper life that man was not
made to rest contented with the good that
is, but to seek better that may be, aud
evermore to press forward and to strive.
We are not TO be content with the good al.
ready attained, but to strain for higher
prize. But our enjoyments and temporal
sallSlactlOns we are are not to seek in the
distance we are to await them at home.
Let us open our eyes to the good within
our reach. All that we most want in this
world is close at hand. Onr best enioymenls
are those which lie nearest TO US all, and
which come without seeking The highest
relish Of life is to be found in stated voca.
tions, in cheerful converse, in the kindly
sympathieS and sweet conSuetudcs which
every home supplies, and every day re-
news.


Life itself is enjoyment TO healty natures,
that take it kindly and use the world Alright.
They need no festive occasions or special
entertainments to rouse their sluggish Spir-
its to momcntary dranghts OF delight. They
drink in pleasure with every breath, and are
girded about with an atmosphere of Joy
There are many things which We may com
mand in this world-many blessings we may
secure by diIgeut seeking but happiness is
uot one of them. Happiness is not thing
to be sought. We eau never command il
by making it an object of pursuit. Such is
the constitution of our minds, that our best
enjOyments must always be accidental aud
to run after pleasure is TO run from it.


The true philosophy is to make the most
of every day and every day things-'The
beautiful all around us lying )" to take the
good that comes in course. Daily toll and
daik bread, work and wages, duties and
recreatiOnS in eudesS succession, the cares
Of life, and the consultations of friendship
and home--these are the fare which God
provides for US all, and none other, though
newer 81 uhlHtlll uC'loSNi NdH pcIluuHGull)
satisfy the nature Of man.


Life is an art which we have to learn
before we can live happily aud well. In
primitive state, man iuheriEs by nature, in
common with other creatures, that peace
able enjoyment of life which, with advanc
ing civilization, he loses and can only re-
cover by discipline and art. Life is an art,
aud the first lesson in art is to learn the
limits of, our being to know what amount
Of happiness the world can afford, and
Herewith to be content When we have
learned this, we are prepared for all the
eXigencies of life,


There are dark passages in every lot.
We have to part With much that we priced,
aud We have to miss Of much that we
hoped But now much remains 1t is
good to have the Nemesis in our debt.
Let US wait patiently the good that is due
to MS by strict compensation aud inevitable
law. ln silence let us nourish our hopes,
while silently the sun rises and sets, aud
night after night the stars look down, aud
the dew distis. and the ear swells with
the future that shall make good the years
which disappointment has embitrered aud
aliliction laid waste Christian Inquirer


peA.A boy, at school out West, when