relieving　the　great　strain　put　upon　him。

“A　man；”　says　Dr。　Johnson；　“should　spend　part　of　his　time　with　the　laughers。”

Humor　was　Lincoln’s　life…preserver；　as　it　has　been　of　thousands　of　others。　“If　it　were　not　for　this；”　he　used　to　say；　“I　should　die。”　His　jests　and　quaint　stories　lighted　the　gloom　of　dark　hours　of　national　peril。

“Next　to　virtue；”　said　Agnes　Strickland；　“the　fun　in　this　world　is　what　we　can　least　spare。”

“I　have　fun　from　morning　till　night；”　said　the　editor　Charles　A。　Dana　to　a　friend　who　was　growing　prematurely　old。　“Do　you　read　novels；　and　play　billiards；　and　walk　a　great　deal？”

Gladstone　early　formed　a　habit　of　looking　on　the　bright　side　of　things；　and　never　lost　a　moment’s　sleep　by　worrying　about　public　business．

There　are　many　out…of…door　sports，and　the　very　presence　of　nature　is　to　many　a　great　joy。　How　true　it　is　that；　if　we　are　cheerful　and　contented；　all　nature　smiles　with　us—the　air　seems　more　balmy；　the　sky　more　clear，the　earth　has　a　brighter　green；　the　trees　have　a　richer　foliage；　the　flowers　are　more　fragrant；　the　birds　sing　more　sweetly；　and　the　sun；　moon；　and　stars　all　appear　more　beautiful。　“It　is　a　grand　thing　to　live—to　open　the　eyes　in　the　morning　and　look　out　upon　the　world；　to　drink　in　the　pure　air　and　enjoy　the　sweet　sunshine；　to　feel　the　pulse　bound，and　the　being　thrill　with　the　consciousness　of　strength　and　power　in　every　nerve；　it　is　a　good　thing　simply　to　be　alive；　and　it　is　a　good　world　we　live　in；　in　spite　of　the　abuse　we　are　fond　of　giving　it。”

Upon　every　side　of　us　are　to　be　found　what　one　has　happily　called—unworked　joy　mines．

And　he　who　goes　“prospecting”　to　see　what　he　can　daily　discover　is　a　wise　man；　training　his　eye　to　see　beauty　in　everything　and　everywhere．