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to see the great Freiburg organ, the custodian, not knowing who he was, would not let him touch it. After much persuasion he allowed the persistent youth to touch a few notes. The old man stood entranced; he had never heard such melody before. At length he asked the great player his name; and, when he had been told, he stood humiliated and self-condemned. A greater musician than Mendelssohn, unknown to us, perhaps, has stood by the human organ which very possibly has given our only “wolf-notes” before to the world, pleading with us to let Him touch the strings and bring out the music divine.

      And what a grace it is to come into touch with God! I have read of a girl whose wonderful grace and purity of character charmed everyone who knew her. One day a friend touched the spring of a little gold locket which she always wore on her neck, but which she had let no one see, and in it were these words: “Whom, not having seen, I love.”

      Mrs. Livermore has said that Miss Willard was ever conscious of being encompassed round by unseen presences and helpers. She lived in perfect spiritual reciprocity with the unseen world.

      How beautiful it all is, after the blunders and the high aspirations of youth, and the struggles of manhood, if life’s discipline has brought us nearer and nearer to God and the ideal life! “What are our yearnings,” asks Beecher, “but homesickness for heaven? Our sighings are sighings for God, just as children cry themselves asleep away from home, and sob in their slumber, not knowing that they sob for their parents. The soul’s inarticulate moanings are the affections yearning for the Infinite, and having no one to tell them what it is that ails them.”

      Do you not remember the legend, how the inhabitants of an ancient hamlet proposed to welcome their king, when it was announced that he would honor them with his presence? Early and late they toiled to beautify their village, to make their homes pleasing in his sight. At length, their utmost done, they rested on the eve of their sovereign’s coming. But lo, in the night, while they slept, the angels came down and transformed all their work. The morning sunlight unfolded a scene of radiant splendor. On the sites of lowly cottages stately mansions rose. Snow-white marble gleamed where simply wood had been. Golden pinnacles shone aloft in the bright sunlight. Fountains sent forth their wealth of spray. Palm trees, in graceful loveliness, stood around their village green. Though but a fable, this story is substantially true; since it is thus that God, with the smile of approval, enriches, ennobles, and beautifies the labors of those who love Him, and out of love serve Him.

      When, at the evening of our little day, He comes to us, or sends His messenger to bid us come home, not the great things we have done, but faithfulness in doing the little duties that He has placed upon our hands, will win His approval.

      “Follow the Star! It may not lead thy feet

      Through pleasant vales where bloom and fragrance wait;

      Nor may it lead thee to those mountain heights

      Where worldly fame and honor hold their state; Yet follow thou! Forget not ‘t is the Star!

      And it shall lead to no one less than God, And it shall lead to God, though God be far.”

Cheerfulness as a Life Power

       Table of Contents

       A Foreword.

       I. What Vanderbilt Paid For Twelve Laughs.

       II. THe Cure For Americanitis.

       III. Oiling Your Business Machinery.

       IV. Taking Your Fun Every Day As You Do Your Work.

       V. Finding What You Do Not Seek.

       VI. "Looking Pleasant"—Something To Be Worked From The Inside.

       VII. The Sunshine-Man.

      A Foreword.

       Table of Contents

      The soul-consuming and friction-wearing tendency of this hurrying, grasping, competing age is the excuse for this booklet. Is it not an absolute necessity to get rid of all irritants, of everything which worries and frets, and which brings discord into so many lives? Cheerfulness has a wonderful lubricating power. It lengthens the life of human machinery, as lubricants lengthen the life of inert machinery. Life's delicate bearings should not be carelessly ground away for mere lack of oil. What is needed is a habit of cheerfulness, to enjoy every day as we go along; not to fret and stew all the week, and then expect to make up for it Sunday or on some holiday. It is not a question of mirth so much as of cheerfulness; not alone that which accompanies laughter, but serenity,—a calm, sweet soul-contentment and inward peace. Are there not multitudes of people who have the "blues," who yet wish well to their neighbors? They would say kind words and make the world happier—but they "haven't the time." To lead them to look on the sunny side of things, and to take a little time every day to speak pleasant words, is the message of the hour.

      The Author.

      In the preparation of these pages, amid the daily demands of journalistic work, the author has been assisted by Mr. E. P. Tenney, of Cambridge.

      I. What Vanderbilt Paid For Twelve Laughs.

       Table of Contents

      William K. Vanderbilt, when he last visited Constantinople, one day invited Coquelin the elder, so celebrated for his powers as a mimic, who happened to be in the city at the time, to give a private recital on board his yacht, lying in the Bosphorus. Coquelin spoke three of his monologues. A few days afterwards Coquelin received the following memorandum from the millionaire:—

      "You have brought tears to our eyes and laughter to our hearts. Since all philosophers are agreed that laughing is preferable to weeping, your account with me stands thus:—

"For tears, six times	$600
"For laughter, twelve times	2,400
	————
	$3,000

      "Kindly acknowledge receipt of enclosed check."

      "I find nonsense singularly refreshing," said Talleyrand. There is good philosophy in the saying, "Laugh and grow fat." If everybody knew the power of laughter as a health tonic and life prolonger the tinge of sadness which now clouds the American face would largely disappear, and many physicians would find their occupation gone.

      The power of laughter was given us to serve a wise purpose in our economy. It is Nature's device for exercising the internal organs and giving us pleasure at the same time.

      Laughter begins in the lungs and diaphragm, setting the liver, stomach, and other internal organs into a quick, jelly-like vibration, which gives a pleasant sensation and exercise, almost equal to that of horseback riding. During digestion, the movements of the stomach are similar to churning. Every time you take a full breath, or when you cachinnate well, the diaphragm descends and gives the stomach

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