The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-06-26
A WORD TO BOYS.
Good Character the Result of the Combi-
nations of Many Virtues.

Good Character the Result of the oombi-
nations of Many Virtues.
A good, worthy character is not made
b. the practice of any one virtue, boys.
but by the combination of many good
traits. So the boy who aims at some
day becoming true. noble man (and
hope that IS the standard OF every one
of my young readers), has many tempt
atoms open to boys, so many paths OF
evil INTO which they may walk. that il
requires constant watchfulness and
care lest some habit will be acquired
that will ruin what might other
wise be good character. l once heard
man say in speaking of boy: That
boy has one fault that ruins him. He
is Industrious. pleasant. kind-hearted,
but he is untrathful. He will tell a
falsehood any time to shield himself"
There are many boys who will do
this. After they have disobeved parents
or employers, or neglected some duty
assigned to them they try to cover their
actions with a falsehood. / can not
summon language strong enough. BOYS,
to tell you how bad this is. When a
boy s-conscience has become so scared
that he can engage in wrong doing and
then cover it by classifying. there should
be a danger signal placsd ahead to show
him where he is tending. If he finds
that he can hide one sin by lying. he
will almost surely be tempted into
others with the thought of concealing
them in the same way. And thus he
will gradually harden his conscience
until his whole character will become
ruined through the influence of this one
great fault.
1t is much better, boys, to confess to
the truth when you have done wrong!
There is something so honorable and
brave in a boy who will face punish
ment by confessing the truth rather
than stain his character with a false
hood. Only think how the world has
admired and commended the truthful
ness of George Washington when a
boy. He would endure punishment at
any time sooner than tell falsehood.
Among other incidents illustrating his
strong regard for the truth his biogra-
pher gives the following: His mother
owned beautiful pair of spirited car
riage-horses, of which she was very
fond. Although accustomed to the use
of the harness they had never been
broken to the saddle. One day while
they were grazing on the lawn some
grown-up boys, in spirit of frolic. at
tempted to mount one of them. None
could succeed until George. who was
thirteen years old. approached the
horse, and gaining an opportunity while
he caressed him. leaped upon the ami
mails back. The. horse was terrified,
and endeavored. by p,unging and kick
ing, to dismount the boy, but failing.
started of in mad race. George urged
the frightened beast onward, little
dreaming of the harm he was doing.
In his fright and excitement the horse
broke a blood-vessel, and falling be-
meath the boy died almost instantly.
There was no attempt on Georges
part to conceal his actions. He went
directly to his mother and told her all.
Her reply was: MY son, forgive you,
because you have had the courage 10
tell me the truth at once. Had you
away l should have despised
you"
What charm a kind. polite manner
gives a boy! There are so few boys who
seem to realize the beauty that it adds
to ones character to possess courte- |
Gus, pleasant spirit! / do not mean a |
politeness that is practised with stran-
gers only, but that true poliieness that
Is the outgrowth Of . kind consideration
Tor the feelings of others-an everyday |
at-home politeness, that makes char
acter loved and admired by all. am
very sorry to say it, but know there |
arc many boys who seem to save up |
their gruff. impolite, unkind ways for |
their home. Father. mother, brothers |
and sisters are often made unhappy bv |
their rude, unkind speeches. and by their |
selfish impolite manners. When asked |
70 do anything. they growl and fret;
they are cross and snappish to the |
younger children, and are rebellious to |
The wishes and judgment of their pa
rents. The boy who acts in this way is |
his greatest enemy to his own happiness |
II life. And he not only makes himself |
unhappy. but he mars the happiness of |
those with whom he may live.
would urge boys to cultivate a
pleasant, kind spirit To be courteous
n their manners It costs but little to |
DO this Little words and acts are |
simple in themselves, yet what power
Tor happiness they hold when spoken
and done in kindness.
have sometimes heard persons say
like this: ..What is the use /
u talking with boy about his charac-
EerP 1t Is just time thrown away. Boys
Will be boys, idle. thoughtless, careless,
With no thought for anything save
gratifying their love OF fun.
: Now. i do not believe shis is always
rue q coune there ara just such