THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS.

White Ribbon, Volume 28, Issue 336, 18 June 1923, Page 1

THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS.

This is the iioad to Happiuecio, Start Now, from Where You Are; Turn to the Bight and keep straight ou,” And you’ll not find it far. Along the I’ath ot Willing Feet, And over Heartsease Hill, \cross the fields of Sweet Content, The Stream of Clad Hood Will. Then through the Lane of Loving Heart, The Gate that’s called Today, And down th'' steps of Little Things, Into the Common Way. And take the cloak of Charity, The star of Wise Employ. A loaf of bread of Daily Grace, A flask well filled with Joy. A word of cheer, a helping hand, Some good to give or share, A bit of song, a high resolve. A hope, a smile, a prayer. And In the place of Duty Done. Beside the Door of Home. You’ll find the house of Happiness, For happiness does not roam. • ted.

Onr day lately I called oil a bedridden fi«end with some Idea of making cheerful conversation suitable for an invalid about faith-healing. 1 do not always shine in conversation. This was one of the occasions when 1 never got a chance. “HootsT said .she, “modern ideas, indeed. There is everything you want in ♦he Bible if you have eyes to look. See what St. l*aul says about next election.” 1 did not remember his mentioning '.t, but it is seldom wise to contradict one’s ellers. especially this particular one. She guessed my lack of understand*ng. and went on triumphantly: “About making our calling and election sure. Did you ever read anything more up-to-date or modern than that. And. mind you, he speaks with authority.” She waited a little while tc be asked to explain, but I knew better than to interrupt “Sec how every word counts. First of all, making. There is plenty about giving in the Bible, free gifts and great gifts, and everlasting gifts. Bat this is another business entirely \\ ♦* ve got to make this election sure. It will

need some good steady work. We've got to make it ours, to start with — youis aud mine. its not foi only one or one here and there, to do the making cither. It's our election, foi all of us to help make, all together, all helping in one big union. There’s plenty of us to do it, you know, if we a!i help to nuke it, instead of the half of us standing on one side and expecting a big majority to grow by itself.’’ She waited again, partly tc get her breath, more to entice me into raising an objection. Then she went in fullbreathed again: “The next word is calling. Ye may stand and call in the market-place, and some may hear (mind you, every one counts), but the most will go about their own business. Ur you may follow an example set long before St. Paul ever wrote us, and call to the children. It’s the work of our fathers and mothers, ind grandparents too, tha f did that • ailing to those that were children in their day, that is going to help most now. Bands of Hope may be oldfashioned to-day, but plenty of to-day’s voters were called to the right side in them. And it’s the childrer who are called to-day will keep on with the work tomorrow’. Then there’s calling on one’s neighbours, or round about for a cup of tea and a bit of gossip. There’s often a chance to slip in a telling word in an afternoon's calling, if you’ve the word at your tongues end. instead of hidden, the Lord knows where, somewhere inside you like Jonah in the whale’s belly. (This spirited comparison was new to me.) Or you may be calling for help. Many a one gets his interest engaged by being asked to help, and then keeps on at it. “You may be calling from the mountain tops, if your voice is strong enough to carry as far. Falling on your next-door neighbour is more within the compass of most of us. 1 can't do even that. But I car see the com moil-sense of what 1 e says again. ‘How can they hear if they be not called?’ “Then there is to make your calling sure. I tu.ke it that means to know what you are talking about. Your cading just dribbles off into nothing if ii’s spoken with an uncertain voice, or iust hearsay. You’ll have to find out and know for yourself, if your calling ir to be sure. Never try to team a bairn anything ycu don't know by

h»art, said my mother to me, and she knew her business, with the family she btought up.” Another pause, to catch the thread again “Now, whether you make it your calling, or business, or vocation, or whatever you term it, I don’t know. But * his I do know, that calling has to come before the election if the election is to at ours, or sure ''ither. See how the two are bo* .id together. Calling ;uid election, says he, and if the out is made sure, then the other will In sure too. One’s just as sure as the other. But, tnind you, you’ve got to use commoncense. If you’re calling a wee child or ‘a child in the ways of understanding,’ you'll not need to shout like uiic iailing in a wilderness, or to them that i r e afar off.” At last 1 ventured to put in a word: “But how do you know it is next election? St. I’aul never mentioned the date.” “Not he. He’s far too wise a man f»r that. Often I’ve thought w iiat a good, careful Scotsman he v/culd have made. He’s just left us to choose the date for ourselves. We can make it next election, or any other one we like, as soon as ever we all make it ours, our own business. Eh, he’d have made a good Scot. He never wasted a word. Why would he tell us what wc>e bettei (hiding out for ourselves? Mind you there’s plenty more 1 could tell you about in that text. But I've said enough to show you there’s nothing in these modern new-fashioned ideas you won't find set out just as plain in youi Bible.’’ I did not dispute it. I never dan dispute anything she says. But what do you think of her rendering of the text? > Shall we make next election “ours’ ? KATHERINE MERCER.