hand into the water and held
it up; another plucked strawberries until the ends of her fingers were
pink; and a third gathered violets until her hands were fragrant. An
old, haggard woman, passing by, asked, "Who will give me a gift, for I
am poor?" all three denied her; but another who sat near, unwashed in
the stream, unstained with fruit, unadorned with flowers or perfume,
gave her a little gift, and satisfied the poor woman. Then the woman
asked them what was the subject of their dispute; and they told her, and
lifted up before her their beautiful hands. "Beautiful indeed!" she
exclaimed, as she saw them. But when they asked her which was the most
beautiful, she said: "It is not the hand that is washed clean in the
brook; it is not the hand that is coloured with crimson tints; it is not
the hand that is perfumed with fragrant flowers; but the hand that gives
to the poor, that is the most beautiful."

824

TRUE HAPPINESS.

True happiness
Consists not in the multitude of friends,
But in the worth and choice: nor would I have
Them popular:
Let them be good that love me, though but few.

--_Ben Jonson._

825

Happiness consists in being perfectly satisfied with what we have got,
and with what we haven't got.

826

Happiness consists not in possessing much, but in being content with
what we possess. He who wants little, always has enough.

827

A cottage will hold as much happiness as would stock a palace.

--_Hamilton._

828

With "gentleness" his own character, "comfort" in his house, and "good
temper" in his wife, the earthly felicity of man may be said to be
complete.

--_From the German._

829

What dangers threaten a great reputation!
Far happier the man of lowly station.

830

We are happy in this world just in proportion as we make others happy.

831

A HAPPY COUPLE.

I think you the happiest couple in the world; for you are not only happy
in one another, but happy in yourselves, and by yourselves.

--_Congreve._

832

Surely happiness is reflective, like the light of heaven; and every
countenance bright with smiles, and glowing with innocent enjoyment, is
a mirror transmitting to others the rays of a supreme and ever-shining
benevolence.