Year: 1877

"Make yourself agreeable to every
one." l know that seems hard pre-
cept to carry into practice. If we can
not please erery one, is that any reason
for us not to try to see how many we
can pleasef A cheerful disposition will
go great way toward rendering ones
self desirable companion. A merry
heart will carry sunshine into many q
dark and desolate home. A kind act
done willingly, and not grudgingly,
will help many in need of aid.


When we go visiting those who are
poor and In need of help, don't be-
lieve in putting on dOleful face and
talking about resignation, and making
them have the dumps ten times worse.
believe in helping to mend their
clothes and tidying up their place bit
for don't believe that poor folks love
dirt any better than the rich do, and
they don't have SO much time to at
tend to these household duties. You'll
find more of welcome if you bring
food than if you deluge them with
tracts. 1t isn't SO hard to preach about
bearing ones burdens bravely aud sub
mitting to higher power after We have
just risen from hearty dinner. but its
not so easy to listen TO it on an empty
stomach, and | wouldn't blame any one
for yawning and going to sleep over
such hOmily.


We often leave of endeavOriDg to be
agreeable because we think we can do
so little in that way that it isn't worth
while trying. That's folly. You'll be
just as agreeable if you wound some
yarn. darned up somebody's "foOtings," "
or rocked the cradle for some tired,
weary mother.


If we were TO neglect these trifies
how little there would be done in this
world!


Why cannot storekeepers be more
agreeable to those they employs If |
were dependent on this sort of work
for a living. I'd want to feel that had
a friend in NV employer. and not that
he only thought as much of me as he
did of one of his signs. grant you that
these stOrekeepers are agreeable to
their customers, because it is to their
interest to be so; they are extremely
urgent, they-tbe customers-shOuld
have a soft seat, but these storekeepers
compel their women help To stand long
and weary hours behind counters, and
do not allow them to sit at all during
work hours. Such task masters cannot
be agreeable personages, and their So
ciety is not such as would wish to
court.


You say you wouldn't submit to such
treatment. / should not want to, and
| don't believe that the female clerks
are of different opinion; but we are
sometimes compelled to do things we do
not wish to, even though this is free
country. Some of these girls would be
thrown ont of employment, and that
often means harder lot than you or
would care to have, if they refuse to
obey rules. | pity the girls, but blame
their employers for making such arbl-
trary orders, and for being bugbears
when they might be agreeable human
| beings.


If you chance to be a school teacher,
YOU might as well be an agreeable as
disagreeable one. You might make
your pupils love and not hate you.
Kindness will win you more friends
than severity. Let your scholars deem
you friend and not an enemy. Take
an interest in them and in their lessons
praise and encourage more than scold
and depress. A great many teachers
fail because they dislike youngsters.
[ wouldn't engage such persons for
teachers, because | know their hearts
cannot be in their work. There is
anOtherreasOn that preceptors fail, and
make their school-room more like
prison-hOuses; they carry so little sun
shine into them that they crush out all
ambition the children may have to
learn. Give children an agreeable
teacher, and one who has sunny dis
position, and they will turn out better
and brighter scholars, But you let
youngsters have cross, disagreeable
and storm-c cloud of an instructor, and
such youngsters will grow into sour
and discontented individuals.


Let your situation be what it may,
whether master or man. mistress or
maid, high or low, rich or poor, you can
make yourself as many friends by be-
ing agreeable as by being otherwise.
Cheerfulness cures the blues kindness
takes away half the pangs of suffering;
sympathy relieves the disappointed,
aud good-nature banishes trouble.
Don't put on airs because you happen
to possess little money; it only makes
you appear ridiculous, and you
don't gain any more friends by this as
sumption of pride andsrrogance. One
doesn't like to be laughed at. but you
will certainly be so if you do not cast
aside your foolish pride. Do what you
can to aid your fellow-man and be
agreeable to all.