ence between doing willingly and
unwillingly. We know that things done with joy and with eagerness are
well done and seem to spring directly from the heart. Not only that,
but they really inspire joy and eagerness in those who are about us.
_Inspire_ is just the word. Look it up in your dictionary and see that
it means exactly what happens--_to breathe into_--they breathe joy and
happiness _into_ all things else, and it comes out of our hearts.

Now happiness can be told in many ways: in laughter, in the eyes, in a
game, in a life like that of Polissena's, in anything, but in nothing
that does not win the heart. As happiness can be shown in anything, it
can be shown in music. We can put happiness into play, likewise we can
put happiness into music. And as much of it as we put into anything
will come out. Besides, we might just as well learn now as at another
time, this: Whatever we put into what we do will come out. It may be
happiness or idleness or hatred or courage; whatever goes into what we
do comes out very plainly. Everything, remember. That means much. If
you should practise for an hour, wishing all the time to be doing
something else, you may be sure that your wish is coming out of your
playing so plainly that every one knows it. Do you think that is
strange? Well, it may be, but it is strictly true.

No one may be able to explain why and how, but certainly it is true
that as we play our music all that goes on in the heart finds its way
into the head, and the arms, and the hands, into the music, off
through the air, and into the hearts of every one who is listening. So
it is a valuable truth for us to remember, that whatever we put into
our music will come out and we cannot stop it; and other people will
get it, and know what we are by it.

Once we fully understand how music will show forth our inmost feelings
we shall begin to understand its truthfulness and its power, as well
as its beauty. We shall see from our first days that music will tell
the truth. That will help us to understand a little the true mission
of art, "either to state a true thing, or adorn a serviceable one."[7]
The moment we understand this _a very little_ we shall begin to love
art. We shall be glad and willing for music to reveal us, to show the
spirit within us, because little by little with the understanding will
come love and reverence for the beautiful thoughts that are locked up
in tones.

Men who want to tell something to very