It Can Be Done Part 39

SERENITY

Calmness of mind to face anything the future may have in store is expressed in this quatrain.

Here's a sigh to those who love me And a smile to those who hate; And whatever sky's above me, Here's a heart for every fate.

_Lord Byron._

HERE'S HOPIN'

An optimist has been described as a man who orders oysters at a restaurant and expects to find a pearl to pay the bill with. This of course is not optimism, but brazen brainlessness. Yet somehow the pearls come only to those who expect them.

Year ain't been the very best;-- Purty hard by trouble pressed; But the rough way leads to rest,-- Here's hopin'!

Maybe c.r.a.ps way short; the rills Couldn't turn the silent mills; But the light's behind the hills,-- Here's hopin'!

Where we planted roses sweet Thorns come up an' p.r.i.c.ked the feet; But this old world's hard to beat,-- Here's hopin'!

P'r'aps the buildin' that we planned 'Gainst the cyclone couldn't stand; But, thank G.o.d we've got the _land_,-- Here's hopin'!

Maybe flowers we hoped to save Have been scattered on a grave; But the heart's still beatin' brave,-- Here's hopin'!

That we'll see the mornin' light-- That the very darkest night Can't hide heaven from our sight,-- Here's hopin'!

_Frank L. Stanton._

From "The Atlanta Const.i.tution."

CLEON AND I

Toward the end of the yacht race in which the _America_ won her historic cup the English monarch, who was one of the spectators, inquired: "Which boat is first?" "The _America_ seems to be first, your majesty," replied an aide. "And which is second?" asked the monarch. "Your majesty, there seems to be no second." So it is in the race for happiness. The man who is natural, who is open and kind of heart, is always first. The man who is merely rich or sheltered or proud is not even a good second.

Cleon hath a million acres, ne'er a one have I; Cleon dwelleth in a palace, in a cottage I; Cleon hath a dozen fortunes, not a penny I; Yet the poorer of the twain is Cleon, and not I.

Cleon, true, possesses acres, but the landscape I; Half the charm to me it yieldeth money can not buy, Cleon harbors sloth and dullness, freshening vigor I; He in velvet, I in fustian, richer man am I.

Cleon is a slave to grandeur, free as thought am I; Cleon fees a score of doctors, need of none have I; Wealth-surrounded, care-environed, Cleon fears to die; Death may come, he'll find me ready, happier man am I.

Cleon sees no charm in nature, in a daisy I; Cleon hears no anthems ringing in the sea and sky; Nature sings to me forever, earnest listener I; State for state, with all attendants, who would change?

Not I.

_Charles Mackay_.

THE PESSIMIST

Most of our ills and troubles are not very serious when we come to examine the realities of them. Or perhaps we expect too much. An old negro was complaining that the railroad would not pay him for his mule, which it had killed--nay, would not even give him back his rope. "What rope?" he was asked. "Why, sah," answered he, "de rope dat I tied de mule on de track wif."

Nothing to do but work, Nothing to eat but food, Nothing to wear but clothes To keep one from going nude.

Nothing to breathe but air Quick as a flash 'tis gone; Nowhere to fall but off, Nowhere to stand but on.

Nothing to comb but hair, Nowhere to sleep but in bed, Nothing to weep but tears, Nothing to bury but dead.

Nothing to sing but songs, Ah, well, alas! alack!

Nowhere to go but out, Nowhere to come but back.

Nothing to see but sights, Nothing to quench but thirst, Nothing to have but what we've got; Thus thro' life we are cursed.

Nothing to strike but a gait; Everything moves that goes.

Nothing at all but common sense Can ever withstand these woes.

_Ben King_.

From "Ben King's Verse."

A PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

There are irritating, troublesome people about us. Of what use is it to be irritating in our turn or to add to the trouble? Most offenders have their better side. Our wisest course is to find this and upon the basis of it build up a better relations.h.i.+p.

There's a fellow in your office Who complains and carps and whines Till you'd almost do a favor To his heirs and his a.s.signs.

But I'll tip you to a secret (And this chap's of course involved)-- He's no foeman to be fought with; He's a problem to be solved.