ess is largely a
habit, and we can do no better than to 'get the habit" and let others
catch it from us.

"Let us learn the truth that peace of mind is health to the body, and
that it is worth more than we ever imagine. Joy is essential to the
truly Christlike life. When the angel proclaimed to the shepherds,
'Behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
people,' you and I were included, and we have not accepted that
message of great joy, and Christ abides not in us if we do not reflect
the sunlight which has come from above.

"And so I am going to ask that we join together today in 'turning over
a new leaf.' What do I mean? Simply this: To meet our troubles fairly
and squarely, grasp them firmly and then completely overturn them;
when lo! we shall find their threatenings, their warnings and their
fearful aspects shall have faded away, and brightness and peace shall
have taken their place. [At the beginning of this paragraph grasp the
drawing at the bottom, tear it loose from the top, and hold it up
before the audience, inverted, as in Fig. 18.]

[Illustration: Fig. 18]

"Truly, 'a merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance.' May yours
remain so throughout the new year and ever after."

TRUE SUCCESS
--Lincoln's Birthday
--Discouragement

It is Exemplified by the Life of Abraham Lincoln--Stumbling Blocks
and Stepping Stones.

THE LESSON--That the very things which are obstacles in the way of
many should be their stepping stones to the higher life.

The life of Abraham Lincoln is so fraught with good lessons that it is
difficult to select that which is of the greatest inspiration to the
young. The illustration here given, however, points the way to true
success as illustrated by the story of Lincoln's life.

~~The Talk.~~

"Every one of us is anxious to be a success. [Draw the word 'Success'
in red, and the rays of light in orange.]

"But many of us are discouraged and disheartened by seeing before us
so many big 'ifs' in the way that we give up trying to gain the height
toward which our eyes were once lifted. [Draw the wall, with the rocks
obstructing the way; put in the letters 'I' and 'F,' and indicate the
pathway. Your drawing will now resemble Fig. 19.]

[Illustration: Fig. 19]

"Some of us may say, 'IF I had not been born in such an obscure place
or in such an obscure family, I might have been a great success.'

"Another might say, 'IF my father had only had the me