The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-01-20
Profanity.

OH lJ I'LL III ttltu W HSacp'. i'''s
comes the boys, and I'm off for a
game of BALI" and Will Melvin
threw slate and book on the table
with bank, and jerking his hat
from Il peg went whistling out OF
! the room.
"What's that my son? What did
you saw" said Col. Melvin, who
happened TO be coming in at the
time.
Il said, | was going out for a
game of ball Pa" said Will.
Yes, | know you said that, and
that was all right, but | mean what
you said to the example as you
threw down your slate and book"
Will hung his head in shame, for
he was not far enough along in
wickedness to let his father hear
him swear, His father took him
by the hand and he'd him to a seat,
and talked to him firmly yet kindly
about the sinIulness of such Ian
guage.
He told him he must leave off that
ugly habit or he would punish him
severely.
Will promised he would try to
quit, and as he is only about thir-
teen or fourteen years old, let us
hope he will succeed. Surely the
vile habit cannot be deeply rooted ,
at 50 early an age! He ran on after
the boys who were going to play
ball in green field not far distant.
In his haste he stumbled and fell III
getting over the fence, and hurting
his foot a little, he thought it would
ease the pain to again soil his lips
with a profane word. He halted 4
moment with his foot, then turned
to pick mp his hat, and seeing it had
fallen IA the mud, another oath was
cmploNrl to clean it, or to comfort
his mind Over the accident.
Having expressed all he could foI
his hat, he put it on his his hord
and ran on. Thc twig Of a little
bash in the way struck him III tue
face. and uc must swear at that, bat
he kept on till he Joined the boys
Then he sworc because he was so
80 warm. He sworc at every mist ike
made and every time anything
didn't exactly SUI. him. ndee'
that seemed to D., his stock ano
store Of language. Finally the boys
become disgusted with him, aad ono
little fellow said:
"Will Melvin, if you can take
| breath without an oath, we wtIl rutt
YOU out Of the next game. rms
made him very angry, and he swor'
worse than ever, then some of Tho
larger bows ordered him oil of the
play ground. lie went oil mutter
ling, and reached home in th'
most sullcn humOr Imaginable
Ho was cross to his lit
tie brothers and sisters, dlsrc
spcctful to his mother, and disobc-
dent to his father. He slamme'
every door he had occasion t.
pass through, and banged every
chair he came in contact with; til
hls father had to reprieyc hun, an'
tell him that was a species of pro
fanity known as wooden swearing.
This boy is, perhaps, an extreme
case, and 1t will take a great dea
OF reproying and furnishing to breal
him, if he docs not try himself will
Gods help to conquer the terrible
practice.
This habit, like every other
grows by indulgence, and If a boy
commences it, he generally keeps !
up until it,becomes a part of his ma
turc. and it is as natural to swea
as to breathe.
They can quit it of course. W.
can, with Gods help, quit anythin!9
we try to quit, but they seldom do
They sag they can't, yet, t'nF ncvc
swear before ladies. How IS tina
boys? Did the dear mother wh'
taught your little tongue TO llsI
your evening prayer ever hear ina
f precious tongue utter an oathf |
she ever did, an arrow went throu9'
her heart. Did your kind sister
ever hear vile or profane wore
pass these sweet lips which they II
, their pure affection have SO otteI
kissed so lovingly? If so, the.
have shed for you bitter sorrowfu
, tears.
Now. dear boys, is not the Co
who made YOU, and gives you llt
= and breath for every moment, an
who has blessed you with the beal
tifuI gift of language, and wit
the beautiful gift of language an
with mothers and sisters and lad
, friends to love you, entitled to 4
much respect, as the creatures
. His hand?
If YOU can refrain from swearin
! Jetore iadjc$, you can refrain Whe
, there are no ladies present 30
is ever present with YOU, takl0E car
f Of YOU, permittinr you to live, an
nearing all you say: oh! that E'
+ all could ever feel the presence q
0 God. Oh! that you could reaIi2
= that His eye is ever upon YOU!
Dear Young readcri whoever 70
are. il you ever take the name
n God in vain" in any form, | a
), talking to you.
n Let me beg you in the name of a
YOU love. of all You hold dear o
earth, of every hope of heaven
leave off the sinful practice
1t is entirely useless, doing n
!, manner Of good.
1t adds nothing whatever to yo'
t dignity.
= 1t shocks the pure minded.
+ 1t grievcs those who love YOU
9 It diminishes your morality.
\ 1t dwarfs your soul and narrow
yours ideas Of christianity,
I'll It lessons your respect for CO.
8 and destroys your fear OF futul
), punishment, and your appreciate
:. of future happiness, and it is I'll
V erandest insult you can offer yo'
S Maker Boys, please, please, don
8 swear. Every oath you utter WI
d stare at you with a thousand eye
If torment you through all eternity!
v Girls swear too! Unwittingly
: course, yet they come very near
a What do they mean when they 81
d oh! Lordy! Good Graciou
% oh Mercy! Great Goodness! &'
v &C. If it is not swearing, it is vel
a naar kin,