On another occasion I heard the widow ask one of the pall-bearers when we turned away from the grave: "How did you like that sermon?" The following day I met her son-in-law and was told that she had not liked it at all. Among other things he remarked: "She simply wanted you to put some feathers in her crown, but there wasn't any room for them." And I agreed with him.
——— ——— ———
In both instances man and wife lived together until parted by death. But love had died—happiness vanished.
Speak to each other the kindly words—scatter flowers on each other's way throughout the year, then Love groweth, and happiness in the home increases in intensity. Then you can truly sing:
Home, home, sweet, sweet home,
There's no place like home—
O, there's no place like home.
2. The Hidden Life
(Mat. 6, 5-7)
The inscription on the tombstone erected on the grave of the great French philosopher, Descartes (died 1650), reads: "He has lived well who was hidden well," or, "He is happy whose life is hidden."
In this lies the thought that happiness depends upon the hidden life—that this is something good which affords one a refuge.
Nowadays, the prevailing impression is that happiness is contingent upon life in public view; that happiness consists in the ability to attain a prominent position, in being admired, gaining wealth and winning fame. This is an absolute delusion.
Andrew Carnegie, the late multi-millionaire, said: "I have tried to make money by leading an incessantly busy life—but it did not make me happy. Now I have tried to give money away to public institutions—and still I found no happiness in that"; this is an impressive testimony from a prominent and honest man, showing that happiness has nothing to do with life in the public view.