Days of Cheer
Edison says that genius is two parts inspiration, ninety-eight parts perspiration. So happiness is two parts circumstance, ninety-eight parts mental attitude.
“Feelin’ fine,” he used to say,
Come a clear or cloudy day,
Wave his hand, an’ shed a smile,
Keepin’ sunny all th’ while.
Never let no bugbears grim
Git a wrastle-holt o’ him,
Kep’ a-smilin’ rain or shine,
Tell you he was “feelin’ fine!”
“Feelin’ fine,” he used to say
Wave his hand an’ go his way.
Never had no time to lose
So he said, fighting blues.
Had a twinkle in his eye
Always when a-goin’ by,
Sort o’ smile up into mine,
Tell me he was “feelin’ fine!”
“Feelin’ fine,” he’d allus say,
An’ th’ sunshine seemed to stay
Close by him, or else he shone
With some sunshine of his own.
Didn’t seem no clouds could dim
Any happiness for him,
Allus seemed to have a line
Out f’r gladness—“feelin’ fine!”
“Feelin’ fine,” I’ve heard him say
Half a dozen times a day,
An’ as many times I knowed
He was bearin’ up a load.
But he never let no grim
Troubles git much holt on him,
Kep’ his spirits jest like wine,
Bubblin’ up an’ “feelin’ fine!”
“Feelin’ fine”—I hope he’ll stay
All his three score that-a-way,
Lettin’ his demeanor be
Sech as you could have or me
Ef we tried, an’ went along
Spillin’ little drops o’ song,
Lettin’ rosebuds sort o’ twine
O’er th’ thorns and “feelin’ fine.”
James W. Foley.
From “Tales of the Trail.”