be thoroughly furnished unto every good work? If you
would pay more heed to getting your furnishings than you do to your fears,
you might become far more fruitful. Thus, you would be more happy here and
reap a greater reward hereafter.

TALK FORTY-FIVE. HOW TO WORK GOD'S JOY-MACHINE

It was a bright, sunny morning as Brother Littlejoy walked down the street
toward the railway-station. But somehow the brightness of the morning was
not reflected in Brother Littlejoy's face. He seemed gloomy; his gaze
rested upon the ground. As he entered the waiting-room, he saw a man with
a smiling countenance, and he said to himself, "Why, there is Brother
Joyful."

Brother Joyful, seeing Brother Littlejoy, hastened to him and shook hands
with him warmly and said: "Good morning, Brother Littlejoy. What a fine
morning this is! It seems that all nature is rejoicing in the spring
sunshine. But, Brother Littlejoy, why do you look so gloomy this morning
when everything else seems so bright?"

"Oh," said Brother Littlejoy, "I have so many troubles and worries and
perplexities, so many trials and difficulties, that it seems I have little
joy in my life. I never can understand how you are always so joyful. You
always have a smile for everybody and never seem to have any of the
worries and troubles that other people have. You seem to be, as Paul said,
'always rejoicing.' How I wish I were as you are! It certainly must be a
happy life."

"Oh," replied Brother Joyful, "I think I have my full share of the
troubles of life. You know every one must expect them. We all have plenty
of them, but that is not the cause of your trouble. It is not the number
of trials and perplexities people have that keep them from being joyful;
for some of the most joyful people whom I know have many cares, sorrows,
and troubles. There is just one thing wrong in your case, Brother
Littlejoy--you have not learned how to work God's joy-machine."

"God's joy-machine!" exclaimed Brother Littlejoy, "why, I did not even
know that he had one. What do you mean by his 'joy-machine'?"

Brother Joyful laughed, and his eyes twinkled as he said, "Come over here
and let me give you an object-lesson."

So they walked over to the side of the room where two machines were
standing side by side.

"You see this weighing-machine," said Brother Joyful; "I will just step
upon it and get weighed."

He stepped upon the platform of the machine, but the indicator remained at