A WAY TO BE HAPPY. 147

 

“Tt is because I feel warmly on this sub-
ject. Long before a large failure in the
city deprived me of at least half of my for-
tune, I saw clearly enough that there was
but one way to find happiness in this life,
and that was to engage diligently in some
useful employment, from right ends. I
shut my eyes to this conviction over and
over again, and acted in accordance with it
only when necessity compelled me to do so.
I should have found much more pleasure
in the pursuit of business, had I acted from
the higher motive of use to my fellows,
which was presented so clearly to my mind,
than I do now, having entered its walks
from something like compulsion.”

“ And you really think yourself happier
than you were before, Mr. Steele ?”

“T know tt, friend Parker.”

“And you think I would be happier
than I am now, if I were to open my shop
again ?” °

“T do—much happier. Don’t you think

- the same?”

m2