Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-07-19
NEVER PROMISE BUT TO PERFORM.

NEVER PROMISE BUT TO Perform.
Messrs Edaors,-I thought it would no
be amiss to state, through your valuable
Journal, few Of the dangerous results
growing out ofmaking promises. and then
leaving Them unperformed. This shall
treat Of as respects the actions of the Sun.
day School Teacher meets his class at the
appointed seasons becomes interested
in their progress, and is pleased with their
attention manifested while at school. Ee
resolves to visit them a, their homes. So
he tells such child, whose name is first on
the roll-booh. that he may expect him 10
come and see him at his house during the
present week, naming the day thereof, and
perhaps the hour. The child shows evi.
dent signs Of great joy; revolving in his
mind how good j! is in his teacher TO take
so much trouble on mis- account and then
how pleased mother will be. However,
nothing more is said or the subject. The
child hasteus home after school is out, and
the first words he accosts his mother with,
are, 20, ma what do you think? Mr.. B.
says he is coming TO see me this week. "
ais he 7" the mother replies; "surely that
is very good in him. to take so much
trouble for US poor folks" The week
passes away until the day fixed upon for the
visit. That very afternoon is the child's
holiday. "Ma," he says, "l'm going 10
stay at home this afternoon, for my Sunday
School teacher is coming to-day" every
well, William" adds his mother, "wc shall
all be glad to see him." So the child
denies himself the sports customary on
those days Of recess. He waits till four
O'Clock the hour appointed. and patiently
till halcpast. "Well, MAJ" says William,
with a sigh, al don't know when Mr.. B. is
coming; he told me to look for him at four
o'clock. and here i. is nearly five." His
mother feels very sorry that her child is
disappointed, and replies, "Don'. be impa~
tien', son, he may be here yet, the sun is
full halfhour high" "Well," says William.
al will just run to yonder lane. and try if
can't see him." So ofrhe starts, not yet
doubling but that his teacher might come.
Having reached the lane, nothing could be
seen but his fathers old cow, quietly coming
down, returning home from its pasture --
William eagerly watching, till dusk warned
him that his mother would wan. him. SO
he walked pcnsively buck, and espyIng his
mother returning from the barn, with her
pail of milk, he goes up TO her. at the same
time saying, II might as well have gone a
fishing with Sam and Jake Walkers, as to
have remained at home, for Mr.. B. won't
come and sec me, after ALL" "Don't speak
so, William" replied his mother, OF one
who has been so kind to you in other ways;
perhaps he is sick, or has something par
ticular to occupy him." William feeling
this as soft of rebuke owned It might be
so, and added, che is a good teacher, any
way"
The next Sunday the teacher goes to
| school as usual, not feeling, however
altogether right. No sooner did little
William espy mis- teacher coming, than ne
hastened to him exclaiming, "Why were
YOU not at our house the other day?
stayed at homo all the afternoon to SEQ you
and not finding you come, ! went into the
street to look for you." William now
hoping that one Of his mothers excuses
might come true, looks up eagerly in his
teachers face for an answer. But ne is
put off with some petty excuse--Mr. b
thinking it sufficient 10 satisfy the child
without exposing himself.
How dangerous such conduct must be
on the part of Christian instructors. is a
once evident 10 all. 1t is bad for them
selves. 1t is bad for their scholars. i
is bad every way. The children are ln
ljured thereby, for afierward they are salts
fed in making any excuse do, for neg glec
of duty. The teachers influence is I'M.
paired thereby, for the children no longer
put that same implicit confidence in all he
says.
The child does not think i. so bad a.
represented BY his teacher, that Of prom
ising and not fulfilling, since he even does
It. The next time The child may run off te
| his games, and let the teacher come and be
disappointed. lie, not the Sunday Schoo
teacher imagine it little thing to break &
promise made to little children. Better no
promise, than promise and not perform
Children learn evil faster than good. By
one such lesson as the above, you will plan
an evil seed which will choke the growlt
of all the good ones you may ever have
sown.
| Let then the one, who would be ,ht
faithful Sunday School teacher, never prom
ise except to perform. for otherwise he il
injuring his own soul; he is wronging thu
soul of The child, over which he is places
to ins.il it in Christian principles.
.Jnyrsaal Of Reie;cus EIa,c 1tion.