rlasting team-work
Of every bloomin' soul.

_J. Mason Knox_.

THE NOBLE NATURE

There is a deceptive glamour about mere bigness. Quality may accompany
quantity, but it need not. In fact good things are usually done up in
small parcels. "I could eat you at a mouthful," roared a bulky opponent
to the small and sickly Alexander H. Stephens. "If you did," replied
Stephens quietly, "you'd have more brains in your belly than ever you
had in your head."

It is not growing like a tree
In bulk, doth make Man better be;
Or standing long an oak, three hundred year,
To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere:
A lily of a day
Is fairer far in May,
Although it fall and die that night--
It was the plant and flower of Light.
In small proportions we just beauties see;
And in short measures life may perfect be.

_Ben Jonson_.

DAYS OF CHEER

Edison says that genius is two parts inspiration, ninety-eight parts
perspiration. So happiness is two parts circumstance, ninety-eight parts
mental attitude.

"Feelin' fine," he used to say,
Come a clear or cloudy day,
Wave his hand, an' shed a smile,
Keepin' sunny all th' while.
Never let no bugbears grim
Git a wrastle-holt o' him,
Kep' a-smilin' rain or shine,
Tell you he was "feelin' fine!"

"Feelin' fine," he used to say
Wave his hand an' go his way.
Never had no time to lose
So he said, fighting blues.
Had a twinkle in his eye
Always when a-goin' by,
Sort o' smile up into mine,
Tell me he was "feelin' fine!"

"Feelin' fine," he'd allus say,
An' th' sunshine seemed to stay
Close by him, or else he shone
With some sunshine of his own.
Didn't seem no clouds could dim
Any happiness for him,
Allus seemed to have a line
Out f'r gladness--"feelin' fine!"

"Feelin' fine," I've heard him say
Half a dozen times a day,
An' as many times I knowed
He was bearin' up a load.
But he never let no grim
Troubles git much holt on him,
Kep' his spirits jest like wine,
Bubblin' up an' "feelin' fine!"

"Feelin' fine"--I hope he'll stay
All his three score that-a-way,
Lettin' his demeanor be
Sech as you could have or me
Ef we tried, an' went along
Spillin' little drops o' song,
Lettin' rosebuds sort o' twine
O'er th' thorns and "feelin' fine."

_James W. Foley_.

From "Tales of the Trail."

DE SUNFLOWER AIN