48 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



LIFE'S SUNNY SIDE; 



OR, 



WHY NOT BE HAPPY? 



BY HELEN ITETnEIUN'GTON. 



TAKE THINGS AS YOU FIND THEM. 



BY J. BUBBIDGE. 



Let us all look at life on the bright sunny side, 

 Nor heel the dark clouds of Ambition, and Pride: 



We've a smile for the gay, 



And a tear for the sad, 



With a kind word to say. 



That will make the heart glad. 

 Come ! will you not join us ? our joys we'll divide ; 

 "Whilst we all look at Life on the bright sunny side ! 



As Time leads us on, let it be our delight 

 To alleviate sorrow, and kindness requite. 



If God deigns to bless us, 



We've no cause to fear ; 



The doubts that oppress U3 



"Will soon disappear. 

 On the ocean of life we will happily glide, 

 Our bark rides at anchor on Life's Bonny side ! 



But some we shall meet with, who sadly bewail 

 As they see the approach of adversity's gale ; 



" One and all'' bear a hand, 



"We shall soon reach the shore ; 



Now — " three cheers for the land !" 



See the danger is o'er ! 

 In the harbour of happiness safely we'll ride, 

 And hoist a gay ensign on Life'6 sunny side ! 



By assisting each other, much good may be 



wrought — 

 The heart's kindest feeling this lesson has taught. 



With this bright aim in view, 



New delights will appear ; 



Though our friends may be few, 



We have proved them sincere. 

 In their truth and fidelity still we confide, 

 For we all look at Life on the bright sunny side ! 



But here one has fallen ! Pray give him your hand— 



We're none of us perfect — assist him to stand. 

 The pain he has known, 

 Makes him wiser I'm sure, 

 (You may " cast the first stone," 

 Who believe yourselves pure). 



Give him friendly advice, and with Truth for his 

 guide, 



He will yet look at Life on the bright sunny side ! 



And here is another ! weighed down by despair ; 

 Let Hope gently lighten his heart of its care. 



Though cloudy the morning, 



The day may be clear, 



And bright stars adorning 



Its close will appear ! 

 The fears that hang o'er him will shortly subside, 

 If we place all our sorrows on Life's sunny side ! 



Let us banish hypocrisy, pride, and deceit, 



Whilst honesty, truth, and contentment we greet ; 

 A kind word or two, 

 When the heart is oppressed, 

 And " Heaven bless you !" 

 With the hand gently pressed — 



Have cherish'd those feelings which Hope has sup- 

 plied, 



With the pleasure of looking on " life's 

 suxxy side !" 



There's much in this life, after all, 



That's pleasant, if people would take it ; 

 On some of us trouble must fall, 



But sure I am most of us make it. 

 Let us look for the tips and the downs, 



And try to take things as we find them ; 

 And, if we are met by the frowns — 



Believe that a smile is behind them. 



What have we we did not receive ? 



Is the world not sufficiently roomy ? 

 Then why should we wish to believe 



We were sent into life to be gloomy ? 

 We may meet with some rubs in our day, 



But don't let us tremble for fear of them — 

 Bather hope they'll not come in our way, 



And do all we can to keep clear of them. 



There are regions of quicksands and rocks, 



And its difficult, too, to steer round them ; 

 A good plumb-line might save us some knocks, 



But it's no easy matter to sound them. 

 For our needle may point the wrong way, 



And our chart do no more than mislead us, 

 Till we find that " each dog has his day," 



And a friend's all alive to succeed us. 



But there's much in this life, after all, 

 That's pleasant, if people would take it ; 

 Though on some of us trouble must fall, 



Full sure I am most of us make it. 

 Let us look for the una and the downs, 



And try to take things as we find them ; 

 And. if we are met by the frowns — 



Believe that a smile is behind them. 



BEAUTY IS DEAD. 



Snow-stormy Winter rides 



Wild on the blast, 

 Hoarsely the sullen tides 



Shoreward are cast ; 

 Morn meets no more the lark 



Warbling o'erhead ; 

 Nature mourns, dumb and dark — 



Beauty is dead ! 



Sear on the willow-bank 



Fades the last leaf; 

 Flower-heads that early sank, 



Bow'd as with grief; 

 Autumn's rich gifts of bloom 



All. all are fled ; 

 Winter brings shroud and tomb — 



Mary is dead ! 



Sweeter than summer-bird 



Sang from her bough ! 

 Music, the sweetest heard, 



Silent is now ! 

 Pale lies that cheek of woe 



On its last bed ! 

 Winter ! too well I know 



Beauty is dead ! 



