When fortune flies the window And leaves you lonely long, Still hum the happy music And sing it out in song. The summer time is coming,-- Is coming good and strong! A welcome for the roses, A greeting full of song! O, life is filled with shadows, And sorrow still is strong; But walk the ways with laughter And climb the hills with song! Live your own life so happily to yourself that neither men, women or devils can swerve you one degree from the divine light shining upon your direct pathway to the stars. De Hant! I. De Hant he come en hollah f'um de honey-locus' tree: "Ah'd thank yuh, Mistah Niggah, foh dat money yuh owe me!" But Ah gib Mis' Sal a banjo, en a silky scarf toh Chloe, En de cotton's sho'ly squandah'd en dat's all dis niggah know! II. De Hant he come en hollah f'um de bahn's ole gable deep: "Whah's dat New Yaar Resolution dat Ah gib you-all toh keep?" But Ah kep' it en Ah kep' it, twel ole Satan come erlong, En dat New Yaar Resolution got a move on mighty strong! III. De Hant he come en hollah right above de cabin doo': "What yuh done wif all dem good t'ings dat Ah tole yuh 'bout befo?" En Ah dassent answeh nothin'! En de ole Hant stay en stay! When dis niggah wuzzent lookin', all dem good things run away! Caught on the Fly. When Hope comes on the scene, Trouble has urgent business over in the next settlement. Don't wait to plant a flower for your neighbor until it has to blossom beside his tomb-stone. Growling at the weather may give the tongue plenty of exercise, but it never buys meat and potatoes or swells the bank account. Be confident. No coward heart ever won an important battle, and the battle-field of life is the one that demands the fullest courage. Little Sermons. Be thankful as long as there is a buttered side to your bread; and when the butter runs out, thank God for the bread! Charity covers the sins all right, but many a poor sinner gets mighty short of blankets in the cold winter times of folly. One heart of love and two glad lips of song have lifted many a mediocre soul up the slopes of happiness to the bright, eternal morning. That New Year Resolution. Dat New Yaar Resolution He come to me en say: "Ah likes de looks ob dis heah place,-- Ah hope yuh'll lemme stay!" O, listen, listen, bruddehs! Ah axed de angel in; Ole Satan come en raised a row, Ah tuhned him out again! Dat New Yaar Resolution, He scrumpshus company; But dat fust day Ah's satisfied He all too good foh me! O, listen, listen, bruddehs! A'll nebbeh tole yuh why, But when ole Satan come erlong Ah knowed it hed toh die! Dat New Yaar Resolution! Ah hollahed toh him: "Say! Dis house am mighty crowded; Ah wush yuh'd go erway!"