| Show 4 I Dont Don't KIl Knock ck on Wood WoodBy t 4 IBy I By DR WM E. E BARTON Something pl peasant has come t to td you oU and you ou did not expect It You tell your our friends that he may share your jo Joy Knock I on wood advises And you ou kno k What theory of ot life lite and of ot the univerSe uni- uni verse underlies that custom Do you think that this world Is governed gov go b by a Jealous fate that grudges joli oU your our happiness and must be fen fended fended fend fend- ed ot off with a menacing and protective knock When a good od thing comes to you ro- ro Jolce In It and be thankful for it If It the good thing does doe not last and somo some good things in their nature do not last enjoy It While you OU have it and let no superstitious fear prevent you OU getting all possible good out of ot it But If tho the good that has como come to you oh ohIs Is of ot such uch na nature ture that you OU may reasonably rea rea- hope that It will continue then cherish that hope and make malte tho the most of ot 1 It t. t Th The air all about you OU Is not filled med by br spirit of ot evil e who say There Is a man who admits that he is Js happy let let- letus us make him Unhappy The world is filled tilled with agencies of ot good and with powers of ot love lovo and Joy and health which aro are treel freely and cheerfully cheerfully cheer cheer- fully tully yours your You do not ne need d to knock on anything anything any any- thing you ou only need to strike tho the harmonious harmonious har har- chords of appreciation and of gratitude Freely yo ye 0 hl haVo hao 0 received treel freely give That verso verse does docs not read GrudgIngly GrudgIngly Grudgingly yo ye 0 havo have received recel knock on onwood wo wood d. d You will S say Sno no doubt that I 1 am taking taking- this custom too seriously that tho the people who knock on wood do It I Jokingly and not I Iknou know It I do o not condemn th the custom harshly But I should like lIh m to suggest lugg st a finer theory of life liCe than that which Underlies s tho custom rho Tho jO Joy that comes to you OU comes un un- grudged Rejoice in it and anti be thank thank- ful tul You need not knock on wood thank thank-I I |
