Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-01-22
Disguised Profanity.

"Gol dang it," said Herbert Ames, with
petuance, as the knees Of his sleigh broke
in riding down bill "Gol dang it, [ say"
1t was near the house and Ilcrbert's
mother overheard him. But she said moth.
ing, knowing that the best time to reason
with boys was not when they were ex-
cited.
With his sleigh broken, Herbert's amuse.
ment ended for the time, and after ex-
amining the fracture a moment he un.
willingly dragged the sleigh to the house
" Mother" said he on entering, this
plaguey sled Of mine is broken I'm 50
mad | feel like breaking it all to pieces and
burning it."
"Well, suppose you do, said his mother
quietly; "will that improve the matter =?
Will that be as well as to wait a day or
two until your father can repair it, or get
it repaired if he has no time to do it him
sef2"
d" But hate such luck" said Herbert
impatiently. Every time | 90 out to
have some fun, something happens to spoil
it all"
" Don't speak any more about it. Take
your school history now and look over your
lesson"
This was said quietly but firmly, and the
impatient boy, knowing there was no chance
for any compromise, sat down on the lounge
and was soon absorbed in the lesson. He
was quite irritable at times, but he loved
his mother, and had very early learned to
obey her and in his calm moments was
ready 10 concede that her advice was al.
ways meant for his good
He went to school as usual during the
day, and nothing more was said about the
mornings mishap until in the evening
when on being alone with him, Mrs Ames
said
Herbert, what is the meaning Of "goI
dang it 2"
The question had such an air Of earnest
inquiry that Herbert looked up, and after
moment'S hesitation answered.
" 1t don't mean anything that | know
Of"
But if it don't mean anything, why do
you use such an expression sometimes ?"
don't think | do very often, said
Herbert.
But why use it at all2 1t does mean
something, and as you never use it wher
good natured, or in the presence of those
whom you admire and respect, it would
seem that even you understand that it i.
not at least credtable expression"
Il never thought what it meant.
heard other boys say so when they had bad
luck"
suppose you have heard other boy'
swear sometimes 2'
Yes, mother, but | didn't swear"
You think so, and no doubt you mean
it; but you should remember that the low
word "gol,' which comes to your lips sc
readily, is disguised substitution for your
Makers holy name, and " dang it " cover
the more open imprecation of damn it,
so common among bad boys or bad men
The words you used are precisely in tn,
same sense as the profaDe oath which i'm
piously calls upon your Father in Heaver
to blast or destroy somebody or somethin.
because you have little bad luck. 1t il
an imitation, in low way, Of horrid oath
and Of a false oath too, for not many o
those who invoke Gods wrath in this way
would care to see their prayer answered
The original and the vulgar imitation ar,
neither fit to be uttered by decent lips
Indeed Christ expressly says, "Let you
communication be Yea, Yea, and Nay
Nay for whatsoever is more than thi
cometh of evil" "My boy" continued tn,
mother, tenderly kissing him, "should b.
above such language"
The matter had never appeared to Her
bert in that light before, aud yet, young a
he was, he felt that the language, which a
first had amused him, was not Of the kin
which is heard in good society. His moth
er's exposition of its real import shocke
him, and her kindness aud gentlenes
touched him deeply. His eyes filed will
tears, and throwing his arms about her nec
he said
Dear mother, I'm eery sorry, and II
try not to use such bad words again"
Whether he ever did yield to the temp
tation again we cannot say; but the cours
his mother took to explain the matter whe
neither was excited, was certainly far bette
than an instant appeal to the rod, or thos
foolish and angry reproaches in which S
many parents indulge when children ar
guilty of little sins. ."-Country Gentle