130 A WAY TO BE HAPPY.

 

“Ts not the desire for happiness a motive
of sufficient power? You think working
will make any one happy.”

“TJ am not so sure that it will make any
one happy, but I believe that all who are
engaged in regular employments are much
more contented than are those who have
nothing to do. But no one can be regular- —
ly employed who has not some motive for
exertion. A mere desire for happiness is
not the right motive ; for, notwithstanding
a man, when reasoning on the subject, may
be able to see that, unless he is employed
in doing something useful to his fellows, he
cannot be even contented, yet when he
follows out the impulses of his nature, if
not compelled to work, he will seek for re-
lief from the uneasiness he feels in almost
any thing else: especially is he inclined to.
run into excitements, instead of turning to
the quiet and more satisfying pursuits of
ordinary life.”

“Tf I believed as you do, I would go into