The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-06-27
Character and Conduct.


Can there be any thiDg more important
than conduct Yes. character is more
important than conduct, because that
mainly relates to Sabbath scholars,
but character is developed in every rela-
tionship; character is being always
formed; character Is, in fact, yourself.
A man is what his character is, not
what his conduct is. a moments refiec-
ton will convince you of this-will show
you that often the conduct may be all
that could he desired, under given cir
cumstances, when the character may be
faulty.
Conduct is largely influenced by out
ward circumstances, character is formed
within. Character controls conduct, and
the controlling force must be the more
important. Character is always being
affected for good or evil; the lines OF
charac ter must be much more subtle,
therefore. than those of conduct. The
character is continually either being
strengthened by virtue or impaired by
sin.
Let me give as an illustration, story
of a schoolgirl in America. 1t was the
eve of half-yearly examination it was
her last term at school, when she would
be seeking some engagement; and she
position in the school. She was doubt
full, however, about the chemistry paper
that would be set; in fact, it was the
only subject of which she was afraid
but it was all-important to her, because
she and another were so nearly equal in
the class that single paper done indif-
ferently would decide the prize.
The mistress wanted some book from
| her desk, and sent Mary for it.
| What was it that made Mary start p
! that sent the color to her cheek ?-thRt
sent the finger to the lip? Why did she
draw back her hand from the desk so
hastily? Was there anything to bite
Yes, there was temptation lurking
therefor right before her lay the book
containing the questions that would be
set for the chemistry examination. A
single peep, and she would have some
idea OF the questions to be set. Should
! she look? The temptation was strong
and was backed by some plausible rea-
SONS, but honor was stronger and taking
up the book for which she was sent,
Mary slammed down the desk as though
she would at the same time crush the
serpent that lay there.
Next day the examination was held,
and, as Mary feared, she did not do we'll
in chemistry, though satisfied with her
own papers.
Anxiously the result was waited for,
and when it was announced that Mary
was second, her friends crowded around
her to sympathize with her OF course
she was disappointed, but they were sur
pTised to finG her so little so, when she
answered them with quiet smile, Never
mind"
It was the last day of the term, and
the prizes were to be publicly awarded,
Visitors and friends of the pupils came,
and the girls felt that the best part OF
the prize was to have them awarded be-
fore so distinguished a company. When
Mary's competitor went up, certain eyes
were turned in pity towards Mary, but
no shade of vexation Or disappointment
cl0uded her face, but instead, smile OF
satisfaction played thereon.
Later in the day the mistress called
Mary to her, and said, ''My dear, Mr.
has been asking me if I could recommend
him 8 young lady as secretary and
heavy and they would be literally res
muEerated but he insisted that she
must be a girl OF unimpeach8b,e honor,
fer she would be intrusted with impoI-
tant and confidential papers. I have
recommended you, Mary, because have
always trusted You, and because have
recently had strong proof of your honor,
when l know it must have been tried,
Shortly after l sent You to my desk I
had occasion to go there, when l at once
saw the book containing the questions.
How toolishi thought / Nay, how
wrong to expose her to the temptation
But l never doubted you, Mary; Just
then the sun shone into the desk, and
revealed tiny spiders web across the
book, and I knew at once that you bad
resisted the temptation
But before that something else had
shone into that esk-Mary's character,
stronger and brighter because of the
temptation resisted. That was a fine
line that revealed to Mary's teacher her
trustworthiness and honor; but finer
than any gossamer threads are the lines
which daily indicate how character is
formed. cline upon line, line upon
line; here little and there a little. p
! Benjamin Clarke.