Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-05-14
A WORD TO BOYS.

A WORD TO BOYS.
Good Character the Result of the Combi-
nations of Many Virtues.
A good, worthy character is not made
by the practice of any one virtue, boys,
but by the combination of many good
traits So the boy who aims at some
day becoming a true, noble man (and l
hope that IS the standard of every one
of my young readers), has many tempt
ations open to boys, SO many paths of
evil into which they may walk, that it
requires a constant watchfulness and
care lest some habit will be acquired
that will ruin what might other
wise be good character. 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 untrlthful. 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 falsehood. l can not
summon language strong enough boys,
to tell you how bad this is. When a
bows 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 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 a 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
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
male hanl Tho hOrSn fairfield
and endeavored, by pIunging and kick
ing, to dismount the boy, but failing,
started off 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 to
tell me the truth at once. Had you
skulked away l should have despised
YOU
What charm kind, polite manner
gives boy! There are so few boys who
seem to realize the beauty that it adds
to ones character to possess q courte-
Gus, pleasant spirit! | do not mean
polteness that is practised with stran--
gers only, but that true politeness that
is the outgrowth of kind consideration
for the feelings of others-an everyday
at-home politeness, that makes a char
acter loved and admired by all. / am
very sorry to say it, but l know there
are many boys who seem to save up
their gruff, impolite, unkind ways for
their home Father, mother, brothers
and sisters are often made unhappy by
their rude, unkind speeches. and by their
selfish impolite manners. When asked
to do anything, they growl and fret;
they are cross and snappish to the
younger children, and are rebellous to
the wishes and judgment of their pa
rents. The boy who acts in this way is
his greatest enemy to his own happiness
in life. And he not only makes himself
unhappy. but he mars the happiness of
those with whom he may live.
l would urge boys to cultivate a
pleasant, kind spirit. To be courteous
in their manners. 1t costs but little to
do this. Little words and acts are
simple in themselves, yet what power
for happiness they hold when spoken
and done in kindness.
nave SOluCtdillcS ucdfu poISVIS say
something like this: What is the use
in talking with boy about his charac-
ter? 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, | do not believe this is always
true. Of course there are just such
boys. But then again there are boys
whose thoughts often turn wonderingly
to that future before them. Wondering
what they will be as man. If they
will be rich, if they will be great or
good, and many other thoughts about
It according to their ideas of what
happy life is. Now let me urge you, boys,
in planning on your future, to set your
mark high, and by combining industry
with true and Just principles, the
chances are you will win the goal
1t is no wonder that SO many of our
great and noble minded men were once
country boys. Country life, with its
freedom from the vices and temptations
of the city, with its time for study and
thought, with the good influence of ma