HAPPINESS AND THE PURSUIT OF IT. 
uncomfortable, not to say wretched, for the pins of 
discontent smart with increased severity, when ‘ the 
bore’ commences his work, &c.” Here Mr. John 
started up, threw down the paper, put his handbe- 
hind him, on a soft; portion of his body and screamed 
out, Oh dear! it is full of pins!” Just so. the 
pins of discontent are sticking about your clothes every 
where, but you do not perceive, or even feel them, 
so long as you are actively employed, but, get indolent 
and lazy, sit down and do nothing, then you feel 
their pricks. Well does discontent know this, for the 
man who has nothing to do, and it may be, also the 
woman, just becomes her pin-cushions, actually stuck 
so full of pins, that they can hold no more, and 
nothing can ever be seen about them, but the heads 
of all sizes of the pins, sticking out ; indeed so full 
does the cushion at time become, that it would 
puzzle even discontent herself to stick in any more! 
Mr. John now bent under the influence of a more 
contented frame of mind, and everything around did 
not seem so black, for he considered, however dull 
his position might be, and no doubt was, both present 
and in prospect, that he knew several very decent 
fellows, perhaps much more so than he was, who were 
“on the statf , ” and who envied him, who would 
even jump at the catch, or chance of succeeding him 
in his situation should it become vacant. Here he 
gave a shudder, and as he shuddered Discontent 
became uncomfortable and left him, and as nature 
“abhors a vacuum,” her place was immediately sup- 
plied by “ Common Sense,” who is now becoming 
so rare, as to be better known under the name of 
“uncommon sense” — so very uncommon, that when 
she does favour a man with her presence it is very 
frequently only for a very brief and limited period. 
So “Common Sense” merely whispered, ‘‘ Yes, and at 
a smaller salary than you receive, small as it is,” and 
was silent. bo Mr, John gradually resumed his 
usual cheerfulness, with the remark. We always look 
to those who are better off than ourselves, bev^ail our 
hard fate, and accuse fortune of being fickle and 
unkind, but just be consistent and not so very absurd; 
look at the other side also, and count which are the 
most numerous, taking all necessary circumstances 
into consideration, those who are better off, or those 
who are worse. Of course you will say, “ Ah, but the 
latter class have not our abilities ; they are not nearly 
so clever as we are.” If this is really your opinion, 
you are worthy of all sympathy, as all are, who — 
over-rate their own talents! For I tell you, talent 
and ability, be it in the proprietor, manager, assistant, 
or even in the meanest coolie on the estate, is just 
