HAPPINESS AND THE PURSUIT OF IT. 
in this constant pursuit of Happiness, is, that it more 
frequently than otherwise creates, or catches hold of, 
Unhappiness, the real facts of the case being, that Hap- 
piness, like the coffee tree, requires a suitable 
climate, in order to develope and perpetuate its lux^ 
uriant growth, for, wdthout the genial climate of con- 
tentment, it will never come to maturity and bear 
good crops : the two must go in company. But then 
again, suppose, that w-e were all quite content with our 
present position, and quite happy in it, “ what a 
w'orld it would be!” Why there would be no progress 
at all, no developement of talent, no rewards for the 
industrious, because none would apply themselves to 
industry, being quiie content as they are. Just sup- 
pose a hard-working assistant refusing a rise of pay, 
or an offer of a charge on his own responsibility, be- 
cause he was quite contented with wbathe had, and 
where he was, and supposing bis proprietor w^'as quite 
contented wdth 3 cwts. per acre, and you were to ex- 
plain to the superintendent, that wdth a little care, 
trouble, and extra expenditure on his part, he could 
v^ry easily manage to get 8 cwts. or more, he would 
say, “What is the use of bothering ? The owner is 
quite contented and happy, and if larger crops were 
produced, very much increasing his annual income, 
he would not be a bit happier, but might possibly 
beconje unhappy, for they that have enough may 
soundly sleep : the oe’rcome only fashes folk to keep. ” 
And so, one must remember that contentment is a 
quality, with a special qualification, for without grumbl- 
ing, and making ourselves wretched that we have 
not more, in a thankful spirit make the most of it, 
make it go as far as possible, at the same time using 
all right and reasonable means, within the bounds of 
honesty and uprightness, in justice to ourselves, our 
friends, and those, if any, who are dependent upon 
us — and if these means are temporarily unsuccessful, 
you need not become miserable, and discontented, on 
that account, for it must be a very low and degraded 
sphere in life indeed in which you cannot find any 
happiness at all, and it must entirely proceed from 
the fact, that you neither look nor search for it. How 
often have we seen, and continually see, people, whom 
we consider to be in a very unhappy position, one 
in w'hich if we were placed, would altogether drive us 
frantic, not only comparatively happy, but very much 
happier than we, who constantly deplore their miser- 
able lot I • ‘ Man ! What a bumper of a crop there 
would be, had it not been for that fifty acres, so bad 
with leaf dis ’’ (no, there was nothing of the sort 
then) — “with bug, ” and so, he worries and distresses him- 
self frets into an ill-temper, on account of those 
