Cheerfulness

1916

Cheerfulness is a great asset. A smile and a song are worth a great deal to a person in any calling in life. Carlyle says, "Give me the man who sings at his work." It was a thousand pities that he did not practice what he preached. The sage of Chelsea only growled at his work, and made the lives of all about him miserable. Of all the men we meet on the street, there is no face we welcome as that of the one who greets us with a smile. We cross the street to meet him and exchange greetings, while we turn the corner to avoid the man with the harsh voice and the frown.

The soldier with a buoyant spirit, who sings as he marches, is a better campaigner, and will stand more hardship, than the one who is dour and silent. Soldiers march better to the sound of martial music than they do when they have no band. The inspiring strains enable them to perform prodigies of valor. It is said the French revolution was won by a song. Some time ago, a brave Gordon Highlander played his bagpipes to encourage his comrades, when his leg was shot away.

The work we do with a song is likely to be well done. The man who enjoys preaching will be a good preacher, and the man who enjoys writing will be a successful author. We should think of this in choosing our life work. If a man is not happy in his work, he should give it up at once, and find something congenial; for the greatest excellence can only be obtained when the spirit is in accord with the labor engaged in.

In our daily battle, we need a song as much as a soldier ever did. Many a man goes to his work feeling that life is a tremendous fight, and that he is scarcely holding his own in the contest. On his way he is joined by a friend, who is full of hope and cheerfulness. The bright look, the cheery tone, and encouraging words are like wine to his jaded spirit, and cheer him as nothing else would.

Cheerfulness should mark the life of the Christian. Nothing commends Christ as readily as a happy Christian, and nothing disgraces Him as readily as a morose and a sour one. If we would have others believe in our religion, and be attracted to it, we must show that we enjoy it ourselves. — Onward.