Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-08-19
A COUPLE OF STORIES
Which Teach Two Very Plain Lessons
Talking About People.

Which Teach Two Very Plain Lessons
Talking About People.
I've heard couple of little stories
that not only seem to belong to-
gether after a fashion. but seem very
much to the point. I'll tell you the
older one first. Perhaps you have
heard it before; but, if so, it is one of
those good stories that it does to tell
twice.
Well, once upon time there was a
schoolmaster who was placed over a
new school. His pride was reused,
and he wanted to make that just the
very best school that ever was. lie
pondered over it good while, and
then he concluded that the best way to
get at his object was to rouse d spirit
of self-respect and self-improvement in
the pupils. So one day he talked to
them quite earnestly, and finally he
said, thinking he had made the subject
very plain to them all:
''Now, boys, l believe there's just
one way to do this thing. If each one
of you will make up his mind to mend
one bog Of his faults, the whole school
will be improved in very short time
''All right, SIR" spoke up little
Jimmy Eaton, who had been very
much interested in the discussions; "Tll
mend Jack Wyeth.''
The whole school laughed aloud,
for it seemed funny that the only boy
who had not understood what the
teacher meant was the one to be so
eager to answer.
But, boys, l wonder how many of
you, if yoatr name had been Jimmy
Eaton, would have made up his mind
to mend Jimmy Eaton, instead of Jack
WyethP 1t is SO easy to try to mend
other folks, and so much pleasanter to
note other peoples faults instead of
our own.
That is my first story, and I think
you are all bright enough to see that if
each boy does his very best to ''mend
one,' and that one is himself, why
presto! change!-all the boys in the
world will be changed; and what
good time we will have - mothers,
fathers, boys and all. There is an old
adage Ga homely one, but true one)
to the effect that you ''can lead horse
to water, but you can't make him
drink"
A parent may do all in the world to
''mend Jack" but, unless Jack tries to
mend himself, it is all no good.
Now, my second little anecdote is
something that happened very re-
Gently. At convention of the Young
Mems Christian Association in a small
city, not long ago, one member arose.
and addressing the people OF that town,
said:
Now, want to say one more thing.
The good work is going on. Let
every body put their shoulders to the
wheel. Your secretary is doing his
best; believe that He has faults, no
doubt; so have we all. But the minute
you see fault IN him, don't 90 tell
him about it. There is nothing more
discouraging to man, who is trying
to do his best, than to have people
coming to him and finding fault with
him all the time
After he had finished, woman from
the Auxiliary rose and said:
''May woman speak? know this
is a mans meeting, but have one or
two words to say. The remarks just
made by our townsman are very much
to the point, but would like to add to
his advice mot to tell our secretary of
his faults the minute you see them,
don't tell any one else"
Now, boys, that was a good thing to
say, and am glad that a woman said
it.
If you see faults in your schoolmates,
don't talk about it or them, but Just
say to yourself: THAT looks pretty bad
in Jack. | wonder if l do any thing
like itp''
If on self-examination you find that
you do, just struggle your best to mend
it. Or, if you find that you haven't that
particular fault, pick out some other
from your own, and the chances are ten
to one that by the time you have cor
rected yours he will have corrected his.
especially if he notices you trying to
break yourself of the habit, whatever
it may be.
There is another thing that seems to
come in in this connection and that is,
talking about people whom you have
been visiting.
When people take you into their
house as a visitor they, after fashion,
tell you secret-that is, you see the
secret workings of the house; and if
Jacks mother happens to be peevish,
fretful woman, or Jerry's father
harsh, sour, disappointed man, or Will
Jams sister a disagreeable. affected
girl. or the bread wasn't good, or the
milk was sour, or the meat overdone,
or the food insufficient, don't talk
about it.
You do not know what may have
been the cause of all or any of these
things, and even if there be no cause at
all it is none of your affair.
They have taken you into their house
hold, and if you do not admire the way
you have been treated you need not go
again; but don't talk about them
Mrs. Enmile Heacitt, in Golden Dogs