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Literary
December 1, 1859
The Abbeville Banner
Abbeville, Abbeville County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
An essay extolling cheerfulness as a supreme everyday virtue, likening it to sunshine that dispels gloom. It argues for cultivating cheerfulness through philosophy and Christianity to ease burdens, accept ills, and foster a happy, pure heart.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
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 the blues and moroseness to combat jovial speech and exhilarating laughter. Be cheerful always. There is no path that will be easier traveled, no load that 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 truly consider that sullen gloom and passionate despair do nothing but multiply thorns and thicken sorrows. Ill comes to us as providentially as 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 and of Christianity. What is gained by peevishness and fretfulness?—by perverse sadness and sullenness? If we are ill, let us be cheered by the trust that we shall soon be in health: if misfortune befall us, be cheered by hopeful visions of better fortune; if death robs us of the dear ones, let us be cheered by the thought that they are only gone before to the blissful bowers where we shall all meet to part no more forever. 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, your passport and commendation in society. You will be more sought after, more trusted and esteemed for your steady cheerfulness. The bad, the vicious may be boisterously gay and vulgarly humorous, but seldom or never truly cheerful. Genuine cheerfulness is an almost certain index of a happy mind and a pure good heart.
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 the blues and moroseness to combat jovial speech and exhilarating laughter. Be cheerful always. There is no path that will be easier traveled, no load that 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 truly consider that sullen gloom and passionate despair do nothing but multiply thorns and thicken sorrows. Ill comes to us as providentially as 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 and of Christianity. What is gained by peevishness and fretfulness?—by perverse sadness and sullenness? If we are ill, let us be cheered by the trust that we shall soon be in health: if misfortune befall us, be cheered by hopeful visions of better fortune; if death robs us of the dear ones, let us be cheered by the thought that they are only gone before to the blissful bowers where we shall all meet to part no more forever. 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, your passport and commendation in society. You will be more sought after, more trusted and esteemed for your steady cheerfulness. The bad, the vicious may be boisterously gay and vulgarly humorous, but seldom or never truly cheerful. Genuine cheerfulness is an almost certain index of a happy mind and a pure good heart.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Religious
What keywords are associated?
Cheerfulness
Virtue
Good Humor
Philosophy
Christianity
Happiness
Providence
Literary Details
Title
The Light Of A Cheerful Face.
Key Lines
There Is No Greater Every Day Virtue Than Cheerfulness.
Be Cheerful Always. There Is No Path That Will Be Easier Traveled, No Load That Will Be Lighter, No Shadow On Heart Or Brain But Will Lift Sooner In Presence Of A Determined Cheerfulness.
Cheerfulness Ought To Be The Fruit Of Philosophy And Of Christianity.
Genuine Cheerfulness Is An Almost Certain Index Of A Happy Mind And A Pure Good Heart.