Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-05-14
Religious.

SISTERS iSPLUERoE.-A little boy of sew
NJ en- or eight years had learned to swear. When
d ever he heard new form Of profane language
he would treasure it up in his mind, and thel
glory in astonishing and distressing the ser
wants, some of whom wero pious, by his huge
Hnheard-of oaths.
After time, a ssrvant-womau hearing hin
one day swear most shockingiy, told it to his
eldest sister. She called him to her, their pa
| rents being absent, and told him of her dis.
| tress at his wickedDess. He wept, and most
of all when she spoke of their father, who was
sure to administer stern rekuke and severe
punishment. As he begged that his parent.
might not be toll Of it, she proposed not to
tell, If he would promise never to use such
language again. The little fellow hesitated
and at length made promise. 1t was faithfully
kept. Though mingling with many evil com
panions, who often sought to make him swear,
though in many respects sadly wicked HIMSELF
ho never after spoke word which he knew 70
be proiane. Exposure and punishment could
only have restrained him for time how
much better was this sisters judicious course.
Many boy whose precocious deprayity fills
his friends with horror, might be restrained by
the prudent and affectionate efforts of an elder
sister.
When this lad had reached the age of thir-
teen, the same sister sought him one day, and
urged that ho ught to become Christian
She spoke of the uncertainty of life, and the
hardening of heart and every way increased
difficulty which comes with advancing years;
Of the pleasnntness of piety, and the ndvanta-
ges he had enjoyed in religious education.
But he constantly replied laughingly, ss o sis
ter, don't talk about all that now what is the
use of bothering myself about religion now
Wait till am grown up, sister, and then III
see about. Still she pleaded, and still he tried
to laugh it off, till quite disheartened, she said,
'' Well, my dear young brother, you know
what you ought to do; pray God It may not
be said ofyou at last You knew your duty,
and you did it mott" She turned away in
despair, to weep and pray.
The boy walked off whistling a gay tuno,
but the fearful eye and tremulous voice of his
loving and dearly loved sister, made her last
words sink into his heart he could mot forget
them, he could not shake off the solemn ini-
preston. Though for two years longer appar
emily reckless he often remembered that earnes
appeal, often trembled lest he should die, of
ten almost determined to seek the Lord. His
sister never had the heart to speak Of 1t againi
and it was not till several years after he be-
came protessed Christian, that she knew now
powerful, by Gods blessing, had been the
impression produced by her tender and pray
erful warning.
The influence of an affectionate, intelligent,
and pious sister upon her younger brother,
may be greater In some respects than even
that of mother. Let sisters lay it TO heart
They know not how much they can accomplish.
Even when repulsed aud despairing, they may,
by the divine blessing. have lodged an arrow
Ofconviction. Even the seemingly careless
may in fact be deeply moved.-.4mericGn Mes
senger. u.