The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-03-21
Who Taught You to Swear.

Many years ago when there were few
railroads, party set out from 5 u'n
"rn city for 4 weary journey Ly stage
coach. Amid AL their di,cnmfur,s, they
had one grsat blessing Tie voulhtnl
driver was very cheerluiI, and seemed in
tent on nNkIrg his passengers as much
90 as lay IN his power. Many 4 weary
m'e over wretched ROADS was begi.ed by
tis merry VII site, or lively song the
rains poured, the horses Jagged, bul heard
above the winds Was tie carrulled air OF
Home Sweo; ilomc,' vr ,He bssa ike
whistle Of Blue eyed Mary On. it IS
such Joy 10 see another satisfied and
happy IN his lot and at his toll 1t
makes the lowly look up III hope, aud
lhc lofty look down in humanity ; il
makes t:c millionaire, bouor his driver or
bis hoffman.
No" that is the bright side IF our
Young st"gcdn'er why must there Ue
I"o sides to everything Before the
party halted, after the first days journey,
'h" Jaded horses Thought they had gone
a, lar rs profitable aud i, was contrary 70
their sense Of right rhal they were pressed
on. Oar hero on the box coaxeo, whis
tied, pa,ted, and at last whipped them,
but still they drag ged heavily on when
AZ tat, losing all patience, the pleasant
sou iaa that had cheered the Insiders
were changed. There did no: seem to
be passion IN his tones, but having tried
all other motives to speed, the driver now
began 10 swear, as il profanity could i'm
pei worn out horse. 'God,' and Jesus, >
that dearest Of all the names abrve.' were
re?eated with shocking frequency and
cArecSsuess. Some Of the passengers
were unmoved, but others could say with
The prophet, The reproaches of iaem
that reproached Thee. fell on me
Among the passengers Was an aged
minister. He SAID nothing II! the time,
bnt when they stopped for the night he
made himself quite familiar With the
young driver, ask'n. him questions about
his business and lis horses, manifcStinc
an interest in all lhat he found Interested
hir.
When ready to start at break Of dav.
he asked permission to sit Ola the box,
that ho might see the country and talk
NTH him, For said lac, 'I'n verv fond o.
the company Of young men, This lamil
laritv and condecension completely Won
the heart Of would be John and in the
k'ndcst manner hc gave all the inrorma.
tion IN his power to the Old gentleman
\ 1onre minister, are you = he asked
after little wh,c
Yes, my friend, | am Baptio, minis
ter
"A Bap;is, minister, are You" he c,ivd;
why my mothers baptist and when
! get home I'll tell her about You : and
strong tiial love bcamcl in his eve.
Then your mother is Il Baptist is she
a good woman = asked the old mar.
Indeed she is SIR replied The affection
ate son II owe her everything. don,
know single thing which she did not
teach me-
Are YOU sure OF that my young
friend 2
Yes, sir, for my father died when
Was very small, and left Us poor. We
We're three or four miles from n schoo,
and as ! was her all, sir she coaldnt rrus,
me 50 far from her all day. So she taueHI
me at home ill We moved away ron
there and then was Old enou % to- &c
! to work. ! e.. Sir will tel. il To- nc
! credit she tadghl me MI know.
D'd size teach you 10 Swear, n.y son Z
rrirr the old gentleman in a slcu,orar
'..y", aud cIapP'mg h;s hand heavily OF
I tie drivers shoulder Tell me- did you
/ mo.h'; teach YOU to swear T. The voutl
: looked thunder struck He coIored deep
7 II and HING his head in silence
Come my SON said the minister, y o,
lave told ma ;hat your mother was
! Baptist | want 10 know whether she i
the rIghl klud of Baptist or not d.
size teach you TO swear !
The Young driver Iooaed up. Ther
was n"ne # that logged iuao,euce whic
we sometimes see in persons who hev
been justly reproved; no look of detenc.
which SAID plain as words could say,
cHn s%"af :. please. I'm my own ma,
ter, and IL is not your business VIII
aught me 10 do it. No, even in his ST
he showed the gentle touches Of tina
humble uother's moulding hand.
Pm mortified, sir he said. that yo
heard me swear last night to my horse
was very tired, and very anxious /
reach L.
'And did your horses feel the oath NOR
than the whip, my friend We insid
could not discover that they we're at a
il tiueuCed by it, said the minister.
OF course not, sir And rs TO 10
mother teaching me to swear, she doe
not know that ever took profau
word on my lips. | hope she never vi
know il, for believe it would break ht
heart. know rs well AS any Mlnistt
can teach me, that swearing is low an
wicked, as well rs useless practice br
I've been thrown into good deal OF ba
company in my business, and have faIe
into the habit, hardly knowing when
do II. | forget when lose my patience
i DO you forget when at home wit
your mother .
Ne, er her presence forbids it. couI