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midnight； unmitigated by one ray of light！〃
（14） On the doctors； who attended him in his first attack； mistaking
the haemorrhage from the stomach for haemorrhage from the lungs；
he wrote： 〃It would have been but poor consolation to have had
as an epitaph：…
〃Here lies George Wilson；
Overtaken by Nemesis；
He died not of Haemoptysis；
But of Haematemesis。〃
（15） 'Memoir；' p。 427。
CHAPTER VIII。TEMPER。
〃Temper is nine…tenths of Christianity。〃BISHOP WILSON。
〃Heaven is a temper； not a place。〃DR。 CHALMERS。
〃And should my youth； as youth is apt I know；
Some harshness show；
All vain asperities I day by day
Would wear away；
Till the smooth temper of my age should be
Like the high leaves upon the Holly Tree〃SOUTHEY。
Even Power itself hath not one…half the might of Gentleness〃
LEIGH HUNT。
It has been said that men succeed in life quite as much by their
temper as by their talents。 However this may be； it is certain
that their happiness in life depends mainly upon their equanimity
of disposition； their patience and forbearance； and their kindness
and thoughtfulness for those about them。 It is really true what
Plato says； that in seeking the good of others we find our own。
There are some natures so happily constituted that they can find
good in everything。 There is no calamity so great but they can
educe comfort or consolation from itno sky so black but they
can discover a gleam of sunshine issuing through it from some
quarter or another； and if the sun be not visible to their eyes；
they at least comfort themselves with the thought that it IS
there； though veiled from them for some good and wise purpose。
Such happy natures are to be envied。 They have a beam in the eye
a beam of pleasure； gladness； religious cheerfulness；
philosophy； call it what you will。 Sunshine is about their
hearts； and their mind gilds with its own hues all that it looks
upon。 When they have burdens to bear； they bear them cheerfully
not repining； nor fretting； nor wasting their energies in useless
lamentation； but struggling onward manfully； gathering up such
flowers as lie along their path。
Let it not for a moment be supposed that men such as those we
speak of are weak and unreflective。 The largest and most
comprehensive natures are generally also the most cheerful； the
most loving； the most hopeful； the most trustful。 It is the wise
man； of large vision； who is the quickest to discern the moral
sunshine gleaming through the darkest cloud。 In present evil he
sees prospective good； in pain； he recognises the effort of nature
to restore health； in trials； he finds correction and discipline；
and in sorrow and suffering； he gathers courage； knowledge； and
the best practical wisdom。
When Jeremy Taylor had lost allwhen his house had been
plundered； and his family driven out…of…doors； and all his worldly
estate had been sequestratedhe could still write thus： 〃I am
fallen into the hands of publicans and sequestrators； and they
have taken all from me； what now？ Let me look about me。 They
have left me the sun and moon； a loving wife； and many friends to
pity me； and some to relieve me； and I can still discourse； and；
unless I list； they have not taken away my merry countenance and
my cheerful spirit； and a good conscience； they have still left me
the providence of God； and all the promises of the Gospel； and my
religion； and my hopes of heaven； and my charity to them； too； and
still I sleep and digest； I eat and drink； I read and meditate。。。。
And he that hath so many causes of joy； and so great； is very much
in love with sorrow and peevishness； who loves all these
pleasures； and chooses to sit down upon his little handful
of thorns。〃 （1）
Although cheerfulness of disposition is very much a matter of
inborn temperament； it is also capable of being trained and
cultivated like any other habit。 We may make the best of life； or
we may make the worst of it； and it depends very much upon
ourselves whether we extract joy or misery from it。 There are
always two sides of life on which we can look； according as we
choosethe bright side or the gloomy。 We can bring the power of
the will to bear in making the choice； and thus cultivate the
habit of being happy or the reverse。 We can encourage the
disposition of looking at the brightest side of things； instead of
the darkest。 And while we see the cloud； let us not shut our eyes
to the silver lining。
The beam in the eye sheds brightness； beauty； and joy upon life in
all its phases。 It shines upon coldness； and warms it； upon
suffering； and comforts it； upon ignorance； and enlightens it；
upon sorrow； and cheers it。 The beam in the eye gives lustre to
intellect； and brightens beauty itself。 Without it the sunshine
of life is not felt； flowers bloom in vain； the marvels of heaven
and earth are not seen or acknowledged； and creation is but a
dreary； lifeless； soulless blank。
While cheerfulness of disposition is a great source of enjoyment
in life； it is also a great safeguard of character。 A devotional
writer of the present day； in answer to the question； How are we
to overcome temptations？ says： 〃Cheerfulness is the first thing；
cheerfulness is the second； and cheerfulness is the third。〃 It
furnishes the best soil for the growth of goodness and virtue。 It
gives brightness of heart and elasticity of spirit。 It is the
companion of charity； the nurse of patience the mother of wisdom。
It is also the best of moral and mental tonics。 〃The best cordial
of all；〃 said Dr。 Marshall Hall to one of his patients； 〃is
cheerfulness。〃 And Solomon has said that 〃a merry heart doeth
good like a medicine。〃 When Luther was once applied to for a
remedy against melancholy； his advice was： 〃Gaiety and courage
innocent gaiety； and rational honourable courageare the best
medicine for young men； and for old men； too； for all men against
sad thoughts。〃 （2） Next to music； if not before it； Luther loved
children and flowers。 The great gnarled man had a heart as
tender as a woman's。
Cheerfulness is also an excellent wearing quality。 It has been
called the bright weather of the heart。 It gives harmony of soul；
and is a perpetual song without words。 It is tantamount to
repose。 It enables nature to recruit its strength； whereas worry
and discontent debilitate it； involving constant wear…and…tear。
How is it that we see such men as Lord Palmerston growing old in
harness； working on vigorously to the end？ Mainly through
equanimity of temper and habitual cheerfulness。 They have
educated themselves in the habit of endurance； of not being easily
provoked； of bearing and forbearing； of hearing harsh and even
unjust things said of them without indulging in undue resentm