IQ6 OUR HOME PETS 



hope, and hence with health. How can we 

 despair so long as 



" Howe'er the world goes ill, 

 The thrushes still sing in it " ? 



Give but a thought to the old-time " sick- 

 room," silent, dark, overshadowed with gloom. 

 Could we, if we tried, do more to induce de- 

 pression, discouragement, and death ? Hap- 

 pily we are learning that the mind has to do 

 with the misdeeds of the body, and that there 

 are no more valuable curative agents than 

 cheerfulness, happiness, and hope. 



But while we no longer shut out the blessed 

 sunlight, the life-giving air, the genial friend, 

 we have still neglected to bring into use all 

 the helpers. What can better shake one out 

 of his dismal depression than the antics of a 

 monkey, at which one absolutely must laugh ? 

 What will so quickly dispel the " blue devils " 

 as the chatter of a saucy parrot, or the pranks 

 of a frisky squirrel ? Keep the doctor and the 

 drugs in the background (if you don't quite 

 dare to discharge him), abolish sighs and long 

 faces, bring in the pets, and make trial of the 

 cheerful-thought cure. 



