The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1863-12-09
.oNLY A LITTKE LIE"

Didn't I get out Of the scrape nicely a'
said Mrs. Reynolds, in an exuitant voice,
to her sister-in-law. as she returned to the
sitting room after waiting on visitor to
the front door.
Yes. you did. Maria, but after all you
didn't tell the TRUTH The lady's tone
indicated that she did net regard this as
matter TO be very much lamented.
Well. what could l do, yerushai III
had told Mrs. Smith that I knew before
hand her niece was TO be married wednes-
day night. she'd have though, I was the
prime agent 10 the whole business; while
you know very well | had nothing to do
with itexcept to hear what others told me.
l just said knew nothing about the mat
ger until read in the papers. and after all,
that was very little lie. just to keep
peace"
And III just tell my school teacher /
lost my book. Thursday. SO l don't know
my lessons" muttered Mary Reynolds on
her way TO school that morning. "Itll
only be a little bit of a lie and ma tells
EN- sometimes. aud she wouldn't il there
Was any harm in H."
So the N stheg had built, on foundation
ni sand. the character Of her child; for of
what worth, or reliance. or value of any
Kind. IL . character which does not rest on
the Book OF fTruth-which does not rev er-
enee and love Truth. above all earthly
good or happiness--which doess not look
upon Lie ss somelhing repelJant, loath-
some. Notwithstanding diseased from
lis birth-hsur, and doomed unto death
something whose curse "was written IRON
the beginning"
Now there is no question that this love
tor Truth must be cultivated like every
goot quality that the conscience mutt be
carefully nurtured. and kept sensitive on
this point tiueh observation has also
taught Us that there is vast constitution
Al difference 10 people respecting this
thing.
Mary persons have We met (per.ons.
too. sho would be thoroughly aston nJed
we're any one to tell them 80. who evinced
irightful moral obiuseness respecting the
sln ofa lie; who ~ould laugh over a de.
ceptl"n artfully contrived and executed.
without the smallest sense OF the great
curse which they have tsken upon their
own souls people, too, Of many gsod i'm.
pulses and Kindly emotions but, reader,
che longer YOU live. the less will ven find
these cut ia be depended on. A charac.
isr driven 10 and fro, OF lis own feelings.
must. IN the end. be 4 misery and a fail
urs. Firm, dssp-seated principles, are the
only safe pilots among the reefs and quick
sands Of life.
And then we must be constantly on the
guard. Tor 4 10 so easy TO fall into habit
OF exaggeration and deception. the tempta. |
tions 10 tell little white lies" are SO ma.
ny, and 50 constant. that only man or wo |
san OF dsep.seated principle can refrain
from sometimes yielding 10 them, and
those who have a constitutional regard for
Truth ahave still to watch themselves lest
they iall into danger.
For the conscience must be kept scnsi-
sise. and IL will require large suount of
moral courage TO do this; bai, reader, let
whatsoever Of good will. or pesee, or bless
Ing, which Is bought with the price of a
lie. be regarded by you as the greatest Of
misinrtunss-ss something cursed Of God.
People Of witty. sparkling temperament,
whose humor seizes the amusing points OF
Thing. and who can tell a good story,
me very apt 70 TALL into habi, Of exaerer.
aiing and heightening the colers of circsm-
''sncss; and as these people are usually
secisl and entertaining, the temptation 10
smase others is increased, and $50 the
foundations are loosened."
" All lies crystalize around some nucleus
o. truth, and there are many people whs.
aIss' only have nucleus Of truth TO
inelr stories. who never report thing as il
oeeurrsd; who. unconsciously TO them
selves, SO warp and distort anything byl
sneir careless observations and disregard
nr tfvth, that not mora Than or.. tenth