The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-05-02
Our Young People
BY REV. R. H. RIVERS. D. D.
Conscience.
LESSON ELEVENTH.


Robert. Robert always stood at the
head of his class; he was the best
reader in school; he could speak al
most equal to Henry Clay or Daniel
Webster. He could do this when
he was not more than nine or ten
years old. As Robert was dong so
well his father gave him a line new
hat before his old one was worn
out. Robert asked to lay his old
one aside, and wear his new one all
the time, but his father told him n o,
that he must wear the old one
awhile longer and keep the new one
for his Sunday hat. In few days
Robert came to his father with the
news that his old hat was gone; he
did not know where it could be.
His father looked at him earnestly
and said, ''Robert, tell me what you
did with the hat" 81 did nothing
with the hat, Pa; 1 left it in my
room and somebody has taken it. I"
So Robert put on his fine new hat
and wore it to school. But Robert
felt uneasy, for he had thrown the
old hat into the gutter. He had
told his good father an untruth
The voice within him said, "Oh
Robert, Robert; you have deceived
your father, but you have not de
ceived God" Robert went home,
but he could not meet the honest
gaze of his father. He was very
shy. He had but little to say, and
looked as though he was condemned
to be hung. His father was very
kind, and tried to get Robert to talk
to him; but that voice talking to
him in his heart, telling him how
wickedly he had done. prevented
him from talking. He could hardly
endure to stay where his father was
"What is the matter, BobT' said his
father. Nothing at all, said Rob
ert. Again Robert went moping to
school. He wished for his old hat,
but it was gone. He wished that
he had never seen his new one. He
could not study. He never recited
his lessons so badly in all his life
The teacher said, "Why, Robert,
what Is the matter? l never knew
you to do so badly" He was get
ting down to the foot of his class.
He could not sleep. What must he
do? He could not replace the old
hat; it was in the gutter and could
not be replaced at any price. 1t
was lost. What could he do? 1t
seemed that he would die if he did
not get rid of the load on his heart.
At last he determined to obey the
voice within him that said, $50 and
tell your father all about it," He
was much ashamed. He went very
slowly and with downcast looks to
his father. He said, "Pa, l have
something to tell you.'s ":Say oD,
my son." SAID the father. "Pa, l
have told you a lie. threw my old
hat in the gutter. l was proud of
my new hat and wished to wear it,
so l threw my old one away. l
could not rest; l could not study.
l was miserable, and was obliged to
tell you all about it. Please, Pa,
forgive; L viii never do so any
more" He was sure it would CON-
-o"rr for tho moor
TO thls. he Wa7 sU44J o t'0Oi
boy. He said, 'ssMy son, L have ever
taught you to tell the truth. 1t
was no disgrace to have an old hat
On your head, but it was disgrace
and shame to have a lie on your
l am glad that you
eel as you do. You have had far
worse punishment than l could in
lict by whipping you. 1 forgive
fou, my boy. Pray to God and he
will forgive you, and never again
ell lie" 81 never will" said
as tears came to his eyes
md his voice trembled; 81 never
will tell another lie as long as l |
ive." He kept his word. Robert
S now man and is minister of |
treat distinction. He has very few |
quals. His people love and honor
i'm, but he often thinks of how
leavy that new hat felt on his head,
nd how much heavier felt that lie
N his heart.
l have told you this tale to ena-
lie you to understand what is
1eant by the conscience. 1t is to
our soul what your eye is to your
ody. AS with your eye you see
ouses and trees, and men and
and everything else around
GU, so with your conscience you
ee right and wrong. If you had
o eye you would know nothing of
le color of anything, and if you
ad no conscience you could never
earn right from wrong. Robert
ad a conscience. 1t was a tender
and it spoke to his
cart and told how wickedly he had
cted In throwing away his old hat,
nd then saying he did not know
hat had become of it. After Rob
TT had confessed his sin and his
God father had forgiven him, he
as like another boy. He was so
Apply; he could now study, and he
BON got up in his class. He could
Xix to his father and not feel shy
it. His conscience was all right
nd he was all right. It is a terri
lie thing to abuse the conscience;
, refuse to see the difference be. .
yeen right and wrong, or to silence :
s voice when it whispers a rebuke
n doing wickedly. l knew a boy I
nee who did a wicked thing and
lowed another boy to be punished
n it. He lost his character. He
ever again held up his head at
.hool. He used to go home to flee
ON the Indignation of the other
oys; but he could not flee from his ,