HAPPY THOUGHTS. 



As a man must of necessity oftentimes keep his own 

 company, it behoves him to take care that his " com- 

 pany" be as good as possible. Addison. 



Retired thoughts enjoy their own delights, 

 As beauty doth, in self-beholding eye. 



Man's mind a mirror is of Heavenly sights, — 

 On which, reflected, distant things draw nigh." 

 Southwell. 



ho would begin a new 

 Year, — and the New 

 Volume of a favorite 

 Periodical, without a 

 happy thought ? Not one of 

 our readers, we feel sure ; 

 for they are a " happy 

 family," of whom we feel 

 proud indeed! Much du we delight to honor 

 them. Long may they live to share our 

 delights and pleasures. Long may we live 

 to enjoy their countenance, and to divide our 

 heart with them — it is freely theirs. People 

 cry out "What a wicked world this is!" 

 Who are they that make it wicked ? The 

 world is bright as ever. It is its inhabitants 

 who defile it. 



Leaving the world, however, and its own. 

 to pursue Fashion and Folly as they will, 

 and to yawn away the time they know not 

 how to improve or enjoy, we will to-day 

 luxuriate in the feelings peculiar to those 

 only who love nature and the God of nature ; 

 turning all they see into profitable meditation, 

 and viewing everything that is done under 

 the sun in its brightest and fairest aspect. 

 "The cloud with a silver lining," for us. 

 We flee with disgust from all who would 

 dwell on the dark side of nature. It savors 

 of an evil spirit, — a morbid love for the 

 dismal, — breathing an unwholesome, a pesti- 

 lential atmosphere that poisons all within 

 the range of its baneful influence. No ! 

 Smiles and tears shall sweetly alternate ; 

 and sympathy shall make life one round of 

 perpetual sunshine. Let us herald in the 

 New Year with these sentiments. 



Well ; our subject is to be — Happy 

 Thoughts. Now, to be happy, one must be 

 cheerful. No grudging, close-fisted, narrow- 

 minded man or woman can be happy. No 

 cold-blooded, avaricious man of the world 

 can be happy. No envious, cross-grained, 



Vol. Y.— l. "" 



jealous individual can be happy. The happy 

 face must be the reflex of a happy heart ; fond 

 of doing good, and living only for the benefit 

 and welfare of society. If the tree be thus 

 good, the fruit will be choice indeed ! 



With these feelings ever dwelling in our 

 breast, we often wander forth, even at this 

 season, for a long walk. Fond of company we 

 are, truly ; but we could not reasonably ex- 

 pect any one of Eve's fair daughters to brave 

 the elements of January with us, and therefore 

 we go alone. We love to be alone, unless 

 we have a kindred companion ; and as among 

 our own sex we are fairly puzzled whom to 

 choose, we prefer to keep our own company. 

 This brings us at once in medias res, — to the 

 very marrow of this Paper. 



No sooner are we equipped for a walk, and 

 fairly out of the house, than our mind imme- 

 diately wanders into Fairy-land, — the very 

 region of happy thoughts. This not once, 

 but always. The moment our back is turned 

 upon the " Great City of the Plague" (as we 

 call London), we are in the enjoyment of 

 perfect freedom. We are moving in another 

 world, and conversing mentally with genial 

 spirits. 



It is quite refreshing to note the healthy 

 tone of a contemplative man's mind, when 

 he is beyond the contaminating influences of 

 a cold, calculating, money-loving, purse- 

 proud world. It is this which makes us such 

 an advocate for a country life. Eegardless 

 of the trammels of fashion, we seek the fields 

 whenever inclination leads us there ; and 

 visit many a pretty little village snug in its 

 rural retirement. Not a single object that 

 we pass on the road but affords some cause 

 for wonderment, and leads to a pleasing train 

 of thought. The air of Heaven — so pure 

 and so fresh — cheers both soul and body. 

 We look up, and worship. We gaze around 

 us on every side, and admire. Ail we behold 

 tends to our mental improvement ; and creates 

 in us feelings of benevolence. 



A true philanthropist is your lover of 

 Nature. He loves God, and wants all the 

 world to love Him too. His delight is — 



To go about rejoicing in the joy 



Of beautiful and well created things ; 



To see, and hear, and breathe the evidence 



Of God's deep wisdom in the natural world. 



