The Light of a Cheerful Face.
THERE is no greater every-day virtue than cheerfulness. This quality in man among men is like sunshine to the day, or gentle, renewing moisture to parched herbs. The light of a cheerful face diffuses itself, and communicates the happy spirit that inspires it. The sourest temper must sweeten in the atmosphere of continuous good-humor. As well might fog, and cloud, and vapor hope to cling to the sun-illumined landscape, as blues and moroseness to combat jovial speech and exhilarating laughter. Be cheerful always. There is no path but will be easier traveled, no loads but will be lighter, no shadow on heart or brain but will lift sooner in presence of a determined cheerfulness. It may at times, seem difficult for the happiest tempered to keep the countenance of peace and content, but the difficulty will vanish when we consider that sullen gloom and passionate despair do nothing but multiply thorns and thicken sorrows. Ill comes to us as providentially as good—and is a good, if we rightly apply its lessons; why not, then, cheerfully accept the ill, and thus blunt its apparent sting? Cheerfulness ought to be the fruit of philosophy—much more of Christianity. What is gained by peevishness or fretfulness—by perverse sadness or sullenness? If we are ill, let us be cheered by the trust that we shall soon be in health; if misfortune befall us, let us be cheered by hopeful visions of better fortune. Cultivate cheerfulness, if only for personal profit. You will do and bear every duty and burden better by being cheerful. It will be your consoler in solitude and your passport in society. Genuine cheerfulness is an almost certain index of a happy mind.