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to James Watt； 〃with observing the growth of its little soul； and
particularly with its numberless instincts； which formerly passed
unheeded。 I thank the French theorists for more forcibly
directing my attention to the finger of God； which I discern in
every awkward movement and every wayward whim。 They are all
guardians of his life and growth and power。 I regret indeed
that I have not time to make infancy and the development of
its powers my sole study。〃
One of the sorest trials of a man's temper and patience was that
which befell Abauzit； the natural philosopher； while residing at
Geneva； resembling in many respects a similar calamity which
occurred to Newton； and which he bore with equal resignation。
Amongst other things； Abauzit devoted much study to the barometer
and its variations； with the object of deducing the general laws
which regulated atmospheric pressure。 During twenty…seven years
he made numerous observations daily； recording them on sheets
prepared for the purpose。 One day； when a new servant was
installed in the house； she immediately proceeded to display her
zeal by 〃putting things to…rights。〃 Abauzit's study； amongst
other rooms； was made tidy and set in order。 When he entered it；
he asked of the servant； 〃What have you done with the paper that
was round the barometer？〃 〃Oh； sir；〃 was the reply； 〃it was so
dirty that I burnt it； and put in its place this paper； which you
will see is quite new。〃 Abauzit crossed his arms； and after some
moments of internal struggle； he said； in a tone of calmness and
resignation： 〃You have destroyed the results of twenty…seven years
labour； in future touch nothing whatever in this room。〃
The study of natural history more than that of any other branch of
science； seems to be accompanied by unusual cheerfulness and
equanimity of temper on the part of its votaries； the result of
which is； that the life of naturalists is on the whole more
prolonged than that of any other class of men of science。 A
member of the Linnaean Society has informed us that of fourteen
members who died in 1870； two were over ninety； five were over
eighty； and two were over seventy。 The average age of all the
members who died in that year was seventy…five。
Adanson； the French botanist； was about seventy years old when the
Revolution broke out； and amidst the shock he lost everything
his fortune； his places； and his gardens。 But his patience；
courage； and resignation never forsook him。 He became reduced to
the greatest straits； and even wanted food and clothing； yet his
ardour of investigation remained the same。 Once； when the
Institute invited him； as being one of its oldest members； to
assist at a SEANCE； his answer was that he regretted he could not
attend for want of shoes。 〃It was a touching sight；〃 says Cuvier；
〃to see the poor old man； bent over the embers of a decaying fire；
trying to trace characters with a feeble hand on the little bit of
paper which he held； forgetting all the pains of life in some new
idea in natural history； which came to him like some beneficent
fairy to cheer him in his loneliness。〃 The Directory eventually
gave him a small pension； which Napoleon doubled； and at length；
easeful death came to his relief in his seventy…ninth year。 A
clause in his will； as to the manner of his funeral； illustrates
the character of the man。 He directed that a garland of flowers；
provided by fifty…eight families whom he had established in life；
should be the only decoration of his coffina slight but
touching image of the more durable monument which he had erected
for himself in his works。
Such are only a few instances； of the cheerful…working…ness of
great men； which might； indeed； be multiplied to any extent。 All
large healthy natures are cheerful as well as hopeful。 Their
example is also contagious and diffusive； brightening and cheering
all who come within reach of their influence。 It was said of Sir
John Malcolm； when he appeared in a saddened camp in India； that
〃it was like a gleam of sunlight；。。。。 no man left him without a
smile on his face。 He was 'boy Malcolm' still。 It was impossible
to resist the fascination of his genial presence。〃 （3）
There was the same joyousness of nature about Edmund Burke。 Once
at a dinner at Sir Joshua Reynolds's； when the conversation turned
upon the suitability of liquors for particular temperaments；
Johnson said； 〃Claret is for boys； port for men； and brandy for
heroes。〃 〃Then；〃 said Burke； 〃let me have claret： I love to be a
boy； and to have the careless gaiety of boyish days。〃 And so it
is； that there are old young men； and young old mensome who are
as joyous and cheerful as boys in their old age； and others who
are as morose and cheerless as saddened old men while still in
their boyhood。
In the presence of some priggish youths； we have heard a cheerful
old man declare that； apparently； there would soon be nothing but
〃old boys〃 left。 Cheerfulness； being generous and genial； joyous
and hearty； is never the characteristic of prigs。 Goethe used to
exclaim of goody…goody persons； 〃Oh！ if they had but the heart to
commit an absurdity！〃 This was when he thought they wanted
heartiness and nature。 〃Pretty dolls！〃 was his expression when
speaking of them； and turning away。
The true basis of cheerfulness is love； hope； and patience。 Love
evokes love； and begets loving kindness。 Love cherishes hopeful
and generous thoughts of others。 It is charitable； gentle； and
truthful。 It is a discerner of good。 It turns to the brightest
side of things； and its face is ever directed towards happiness。
It sees 〃the glory in the grass； the sunshine on the flower。〃 It
encourages happy thoughts； and lives in an atmosphere of
cheerfulness。 It costs nothing； and yet is invaluable； for it
blesses its possessor； and grows up in abundant happiness in the
bosoms of others。 Even its sorrows are linked with pleasures； and
its very tears are sweet。
Bentham lays it down as a principle； that a man becomes rich in
his own stock of pleasures in proportion to the amount he
distributes to others。 His kindness will evoke kindness； and his
happiness be increased by his own benevolence。 〃Kind words；〃 he
says； 〃cost no more than unkind ones。 Kind words produce kind
actions； not only on the part of him to whom they are addressed；
but on the part of him by whom they are employed； and this not
incidentally only； but habitually； in virtue of the principle of
association。〃。。。。 〃It may indeed happen； that the effort of
beneficence may not benefit those for whom it was intended； but
when wisely directed； it MUST benefit the person from whom it
emanates。 Good and friendly conduct may meet with an unworthy and
ungrateful return； but the absence of gratitude on the part of the
receiver cannot destroy the self…approbation which recompenses the
giver； and we may scatter the seeds of courtesy and kindliness
around us