The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1867-06-27
(From tho New York Observer.
A bad FOvlnda tiOn.


Passing along the street the other
day, | saw crowd collected around an
unfinished building l stopped, and
soon learned that the side wall of the
house had fallen, killing two men and
wounding several others. The ques-
tions passed from lip to lip, GLOW was
it| "Why did it fall ?" "Who is to
blame 2" .'The cause is plain enough"
.said man evidently builder, pointing
to the base of the building, ''it had a
bad foundation, too weak by half for such
a wall"
passed round to the front; it was
tall and stately, of beautiful red brick,
with white marble cappings and orna-
ments-altogethel fair and noble
house, and, but for the terrible gap,
pleasant to look upon.
With a sad heart went on my way
Two souls gone to their last account,
and wounded sufferers left to drag out
weary days and nights, all because some
body laid bad Foundation. What folly,
nay, what guilt, thus to endanger hui
man life! All yes, it is not only a
thoughtless, but a wicked thing to lay
bad foundations and yet how many
every day are guilty of it.
The schoOl-boy who is only studious
and quiet when the teacher'seye is upon
him; who will get the answers of his
problems by the "key," or from another
boys slate, instead Of working them out
himself; who will break rules whenever
he can do so without being punished;
Or who will spend the day in the street
playing truant when his parents think
he is at school, is laying bad founda-
ton.
The girl who is careless and untidy
as to her dress who is in too much haste
to set her room in order neatly and
thoroughly, is laying bad foundation.
Worse still, the boy or girl who is
ill-tempered or sullen when asked to
assist at home, to fetch a pail of water
or stick of wood to amuse the younger
children or rock the cradle; the boy Or
girl who says, 81 don't want to-" when
such little services are needed, or goes
grumbling to do them is laying bad
foundation.
The boy who is tempted by the open
shop on Sunday to spend his missionary
money, and yields; who is tempted on
bright day to take q walk, a ride, or
sail, instead of going to Sunday school,
and yields, is laying bad foundation,
The boy who turns over for another
little nap after he is called in the morn
ing; who thinks ait will do Just as well
tomorrow" when there is anything un-
pleasant to be done, forgetting that to-
morrow never comes, is laying bad
foundation.
All the boys and girls are bmIoIcrS, and
character is the structure they are rearing.
Ah, there are thousands who make sad
mistakes; idleness, delay, want of reso-
luton, dishonesty in small things, Sab
bath-breaking, drinking, gambling,
falsehood, theft-these are all laid in the
foundation,
Fatal errors they often prove Later
in life, what should be the strong and
noble character of man, beautiful to
contemplate, falls with a sudden crash
that buries him forever from the respect
of good men, and leaves his soul q
wreck for eternity,
Little builders, lay the foundation
firm and sure and strong. Look well
to the little weak places; make them
secure. Ask daily help from God, and
he will aid you to build good and true
character, such as even his pure eyes
may look upon with pleasure