Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-05-03
" THINNING OURSELVES OVER.

Mother, wha, is seif-examina'ion :"
asked child our superintendent SAID
something abour ii, and he told us all to
, spend little while every Sabbath practic-
ing it-practlcing fchot, mother @
Seif-examinauon is thinking our
selves over, answered the mother
on know how apt we are 10 forget our
selves, what we did and thought yester-
day, and the day before, and the day be-
fore that Now it is by calling to mind
our past conduct that we can truly see j,
as II IS, and improve upon it,
How must | do, mother z" asked
Mary g tell me how to begin" Her
mother said.
You may first think over yonr con-
duct towards your parents. Have they
had reason 10 find fault with you during
the week !; if so, what for; Have Won
disobeyed them or disputed with them. or
been sullen or ill-humored towards ,hems
Have you made them glad bv YOUR kind
ness, and your faithful and ready com
pllance with their wishesl
Then think of Your duties to YOUR
brothers, and sisters, and little friends
Ask yourself what has been your deport-
ment towards them. How many have
you made unhappys Have you spoken
cross words to them Have YOU been an
cry or ill-natured Have YOU deceived
them What hard thoughts have yon
cherished IN your heart towards them 2"
40, mother, 1t would take me a great
while to think all that over. and I'm
afraid" said the little girl, looking down
-" IN afraid II would not always please
me What next must think of mothers !"
Faithfulness In your business"
" business :, said Mary. smiling papa
has business; little girls havn',."
U, yes, SAID her mother, "anv worI,
which you have to do is your business
dusting the parlor, taking care of the
baby, your studies at school; those are
your employments, in which you ought to
be dIligent and faithful. Have YOU been2
Do you never play IN school Do YOU
thoroughly learn your lessons Do you
mind what the teacher says2 Carefully
think over whether your couduct is in all
respects what Christian chiId's should
be-"
81 know verse about business" said
Mary, The Bible tells us ITO be dill
igent in business, fervent p spirit, serving
the Lord. That means, we must mind
God IN 1t; doesn't ii 2" Wha, more is
there to think over, mother :"
Secret faults, answered she. "Haye
you cherished any wrong feelings in your
heart? Have you had secret thouobts'
which you would be sorry to have exposed7
Any envy of others-any pride Have
you harbored unkindness Have Won
been selfish Have you forgotten God
Have you neglected to praise him and 10
pray TO him Go over all this ground
thoroughly, and confess your faults. ask
your Saviour to make your heart clean.
and help you TO love only what is lovely."
- But aunt Jane says there's no need of
chIldren's thinking" said Mary.
Without thinking" said Mary's moth.
er, there can be no Improvement
Thoughtlessness is the besetting faul, of
youth. 1t is this which make them giddy.
foolish, and vain, and blinds them to their
own defects"
Mary sat still for some time, looking
out of the window. Then she came. and
putting her arms around her mothers
neck, sweetly said, " Dear mother. will
Try to be one of yours and Gods good
Children
10 think ourselves over" in this way
Is very proper exercise for the Sabbath.
Holy time Is ap, TO seem long sometimes.
because people do not know exactly how
TO spend il to the best account. Assio,
this duty place somewhere and If
heartily and thoroughly taken up. j. will
be one of the greatest means of self-im-
provement. But while it is a Sabbath
duty, is il not a weekday duty also!
Every night, children, before YOU 90 to
bed. and before you are too sleepy to
remomber, try and recall yourself for the
day Think what you have done right,
and thank God for 1t. Think of the WAYS
IN which you have done wrong, and in
which. If You are not careful, you will
surely do wrong again. Name them in
PLAIN words in your prayers, and say.
s. Help me, o Lord in such thing. ".ha,
may not again sin against thee"