“The next day the youth proceeded on his journey—and for several days he continued to pursue it, until at last he had nearly reached the point to which he was bound. On every occasion when his courage had failed—when fatigue had oppressed him, or when difficulties had stared him in the face—the little lady, of flaxen hair and bright blue eyes, had come to his aid, and, chasing away his despondence, had given him new courage to proceed. As the youth came in sight of the city to which he was travelling, she appeared once more, and addressed him for the last time.
“As he was about to bid her farewell, his heart smote him at the idea of parting with her forever. ‘My dear lady,’ said he, while he kissed her hand tenderly; ‘I owe you much more than my tongue can speak. You have watched over me in this long and tedious journey; you have lightened my burthen, cheered my fatigues, chased away my fears, and given me courage in the place of despondence. But for you, I had long since lain down and died in the path; or had lingered in misery by the way. Would that I could induce you to live with me forever.’
“‘That may not, cannot be!’ said the lady, as a smile passed over her face; ‘that may not be. I am not of flesh and, blood, like you: I am a fairy—my form is but a thing of hues like the rainbow, that seems a bridge leading from earth to heaven, and yet is baseless as a dream.’
“‘Lovely fairy,’ said the youth, kneeling; ‘pray tell me your name; and oh, if it be possible, tell me the art by which you have taught me to conquer difficulties, to rise above doubt, to triumph over indolence, murmuring, and despondency!’ The fairy replied as follows:—
“‘Listen, youth—for I tell you an important secret. My name is Cheerfulness, and all my art lies in a single sentence: Always make the best of it.’ So saying, the fairy departed, and was seen by the youth no more; but he now perceived the force of the fairy’s words, and practising accordingly, he soon possessed the great art of securing happiness, and of making himself agreeable to others.”
Caution.—As you would air a bed carefully, that has been slept in by one afflicted with an infectious disease, so be very considerate before you place confidence in a lawyer.
The War in Florida.
At the southeastern extremity of the United States, is a long Peninsula called Florida. This name was given to it by the Spaniards, because it seemed to them a land of flowers. It continued to belong to Spain till about twenty years ago, when it was ceded to the United States.
Florida was occupied by several tribes of Indians, when first discovered. Among them were the Seminoles, a branch of the Creek nation, who dwelt in the northern part of the territory. When the country was ceded to the United States, they held possession of the vast tract which stretches from the Atlantic ocean to the river Apalachicola, save only a space around the town of St. Augustine. It was a fair land, watered with many rivers, inhabited by millions of brilliant birds, and the dwelling-place of vast herds of deer; it was a land of almost perpetual summer, where the orange and the lemon, and the vine, flourished in the open air.