The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-01-13
Didn't Mean To.

other day, when he left his sled lying
in the gateway after dark, so that old
Mr.. Marvin fell over it and broke bis
leg. The old clergyman will never
walk without crutch again. We
shall miss his gray head and wise eoun-
sells and solemn prayers III our sick
rooms. He will be obliged to lie many
weeks i'm bed before he ear sit up OK
walk step, and all because Benny
"didn't mean to-"
The careless nurse that held little
Oracle, when she was lively, strong
rosy baby, six months old, jumping
and throwing herself about in all di-
rections, tried to read a story.book and
tend baby at one time. Oracle gave q
jump, and fell back over the arm Of the
sofa, and injured her spine; 80 that
from being the pride and Joy of the
house became puny, wailing, deform-
ed child, whom no doctor could cure
1t was little comfort as her mother sat
up ut night and soothed her distress,
and her father tried all that wealth
could do to make her straight and
strong, to hear the nurse say, 81 didn't
mean to-"
When little Johnny shocks his
mother by saying bad words and US
ing coarse slang phrases, it does not
make the matter much better to have
his big brother, from whom he learned
it all, say, al didn't mean to say such
things before the Children
Some yOulg girls were working in a
powder factory one day; full Of life and
happiness. They all expected to lie
down in their homes a. usual that
night. Death seemed 50 far of to them
rs IL does to you. One Of them care
lessly threw a pair Of scissors TO a
friend sitting near. They hit a car
fridge, and caused terrific explosion,
which sent a large number Of young
girls and men into eternity in an iu-
slant of time. When the relatives
were weeping and wailing, and trying
to find the dead lvdies of their dear
children among the charred ren1aips
OF the victims of the accident, how
| little consolation was il to hear one
say "She didn't mean it,
I'heard a father tell his sou one day,
MY boy, that's no exeuse; mean MT
to.n
| Very few mean to scatter sOrrpw
aud distress aud woe i'm the path Of
others. None mean 10 lose their own
souls, and few wish ~ ruin those about
them. When the mischief is done,
| how poor the excuse, 81 did't mean
ton How much better to mean pot.
to.-Am. Aesseager.
Sour Werds.
We hope that none OF the yuung
tolks who regularly read this column
which is gotten up especially for their
entertainment and Instruction, have
required the unworthy habi. Of frown-
ing, sulking and using sour cross
words. The faces of boys and girls
should be sunny and bright, as their
hearts should be free from care or sor-
row or evil desires, 80 that their pres
ence will bring pleasure only 10 their
loving parents and kind friends.
\ ]. They indicate sour origin.
They show that the heart is in an acid
state. The hearer of such words can
not but have his own, and not very
complimentary opinion of the speaker.
:. They make the speaker himself
| more sour. Words react upon those
who utter them. AS kind words beget
kindness, and increase the power OF IL
tuC cOui, 81 oOul Moku5 lutkCt5C LIic
bad temper of him who uses them.
They add fuel to the fire and augment
the heat. "
3. Sour words dangerously tend to
make the hearer sour. They create an
atmosphere which he breathes, and
the virus is likely to penetrate his soul
and make him sour too. Vinegar its
! own character to anything il can
reach. So it is not the fault Of the sour
in heart and speech that they do not
spoil all the sweetness there Is about
them, ~
4. Sour words are all but certain to
give sourness to the countenanee; the
face is tell-tale Of the heart, and the
hearts sourness, rising to the lips In
bitter words, has won wonderful pow
er over all the features. Look on the
countenance, as its owner Is using
sharp and hitter wonls. Do you see a
smiling June or q seOwling November.
). Sour words ere not soon forgot
ten. Sharp and piercing, they enter
like iron, the soul. As with hooks Of
steel, they hang ON to memory. All
that you can recollect of some people
are the sour words You have heard
them use.
There are five reasons why such
words should never be found on your
lips. Let the last one you have be
last.