Part 81

EMERSON.

Discontent

NOVEMBER 16

"Discontent is want of self-reliance; it is infirmity of will."

EMERSON.

"To repel one's cross is to make it heavier."

Amiel's Journal.

"She had that rare sense which discerns what is unalterable; and submits to it without murmuring."

GEORGE ELIOT.

"But for me, What good I see, humbly I seek to do, And live obedient to the Law, in trust That what will come and shall come, must come well."

The Light of Asia, E. ARNOLD.

Magnifying Troubles

NOVEMBER 17

"Another weight is the cares of life. We keep so many which we might shake off, that it is more than pitiful. We encourage fears for our life, our future, our wealth, till all our days are harassed out of peace, till the very notion of trust in God is an absurdity. We waste life away in petty details, spending infinite trouble on transient things, magnifying the gnats of life into elephants, tormenting ourselves and others over household disturbances, children, servants, little losses, foolish presentiments, our state of health, our finances,--till every one around us is infected with our disease of fret and worry. This is indeed to weight our soul. Our life with God, our work for man, are dragged to earth."

The Gospel of Joy, STOPFORD BROOKE.

"I pack my troubles in as little compass as I can for myself, and never let them annoy others."

SOUTHEY.

Bearing Trouble

NOVEMBER 18

"Once open the door to trouble, and its visits are three-fold; first, anticipation; second, in actual presence; third, in living it over again. Therefore never anticipate trouble, make as little of its presence as possible, forget it as soon as past."

"It is better to employ our minds in bearing the ills we have, than in providing against those which may never befall us."

LA ROCHEFOUCAULD.

"Let us be of good cheer, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never come."

LOWELL.

"If you want to be cheerful, jes' set yer mind on it an' do it. Can't none of us help what traits we start out in life with, but we kin help what we end up with. When things first got to goin' wrong with me, I says, 'Oh, Lord, whatever comes, keep me from gettin' sour.'... Since then I've made it a practice to put all my worries down in the bottom of my heart, then set on the lid an' smile."

Lovey Mary, ALICE HEGAN RICE.

The Secret of the Joy of Living

NOVEMBER 19