American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-10-08
About Telling the Truth,

All noble boys and girls tell the truth
as q matter of course. In fact, the
greatest possible insult that can be Of
fered person is to doubt his word
No matter what consequences are in
volved, it is always your duty to tell
plainly and clearly just what has really
happened so far as you are concerned.
l once knew little fellow of quite
timid and sensitive nature who had the
misfortune to break window while
playing ball in the school-yard. The
teacher was thought to be very stern,
| and Charlie was very much frightened,
but he went straight indoors, and up to
the desk, and told what he had done.
A day or two later somebody said,
"Who broke that window, Mr-?"
"An honorable person, SIR" was the
reply, loud enough for everybody to
hear.
When truth-telling concerns not your
self only, but others, it is sometimes
right for you to refrain from speaking,
simply declining to answer rather than
TO tell tales. You must Judge about
this when circumstances arise, but of
one thing you may be sure, that it is
never right to evade, or alter, or color
a statement. Be true, whatever hap
pens, An old pagan Emperor used to
say: "No matter what other folks do,
L must be good, just as if the emerald
'.should say, 1 mus. always be emerald,
and keep my color" Do not hesitate
when questioned, but look the one who
questions you straight in the face, and
say what, it is right to say, modestly and
Candor does not require YOU, on the
other hand, to go about saving disa-
greeable things because they are true.
A. little girl l used to know once made
a visit in house where were twin sis
ters, one of whom was much prettier
than the other. What should little
miss do but remark: 'sLthink Eunice is
far more beautiful than Elsie. and I've
heard Aunt Clara say she thinks SO,
too" This was true, but it was true
thing which was never meant to be
talked of. And the little girl felt very
much ashamed of herself when she grew
older and recollected it.
Lewis had brought home dreadful re-
ports for four or five weeks, and espe-
cially in spelling he had long lists of
failures. How he did wish that the
teachers in his school would believe in
the spelling reform of which his sisters
professor talked! So far as Lewis un-
derstood it. it appeared to him that the
professor agreed with the school-boys
that word should be spelled the way
it sounded. But the teachers at his
academy only grew stricter every day,
and his dement's kept accommodating like
u SNOWFALL that becomes bigger and
bigger as it rolls along.
IS Erightfulr' mamma would exciaim.
shuddering, as she gazed at Lewis's re-
ports.
.'Disgracefulr' was papa's opinion.
mo more pocket-money, sir, till see
some improvement"
"Abominably stupidr' said Uncle
James.
So Lewis became deeply discour-
aged.
One day when he felt sure of only
one thing. and that was that he could
not spell, he did what l am ashamed to
tell you of. He opened his book, under
the shadowy screen of the desk lid, and
peeped. Were there two rs? Did i
come first or e? Alas! Lewis knew.
He saw the letters plainly, and he
spelled them boldly and clearly.
"Right," said the trusting teacher,
with smile of approval that went
straight to the boys heart. Oh! how
he felt that he had gained that pleas
ant word Fright" without deserving it!
He did not run merrily home that
night. He had no desire to go out and
play. He was far happier when ne
knew that black failure was written
against his name, for then he had not
failed in himself. He had been honest,
if he had not been clever.
That evening he told me the whole
story, and ended by saying: ut has
taught me a lesson, Aunt Marjorie.
All fair, and no cheating, for me, after
this, It's awful to feel so mean as I've
felt all day."-Harper's Young People.