The Van Buren press., 1893-08-05
YOUR INFLUENCE.

O0e uNT eSGVSCs
The Great Want Of the World Felt In the
Lack of Good sisters.
THE evil that men do lives after
them, the good is oft inferred with
their bones" wrote Shakespeare, and
1t probably il Is true to-day as it was
centuries ago. II is only another way
OF conveying great truth that per-
sons power for evil is greater than his
capacity for good, and it illustrates an
other point which we are all prone to
overlook.
We fail to grasp the idea that every
word we utter, every action we per-
form, is making an impression on the
eharacter of those around us. #Itt
1t is a fact that all Of us, however
great or however magnificent, WELD
an immense power in the influence we
exert upon other people. Any girl
no matter how quiet life she leads,
nor how unimportant person
age she may be, can not fail to
exercise an influence on her
companions. II may be confined
to those near her at first, but it after
ward reaches further than she can fol-
low it. So, when stone is thrown in
TO a pond. it makes ripple, and that
ripple makes another, and so on until
the circling eddies reach far into the
distance. t tF
Thus il is with your life. Are you
sweet-tempered, forgiving and oblig-
ing? You may be sure that those about
you are influenced by your conduct, al
though they may say nothing about 1t.
Are you irritable, selfish or indolent?
Then you are teaching others how de-
void of beauty girls life may be.
In human life. each one is helping to
form the character of his neighbor, and
our conduct must, and invariably does,
produce either good or evil fruit.
If we were fully alive to the truth of
this influence, surely we should live
more carefully than we do A selfish
action, a hasty, angry word, rudeness
or meanness of any kind would be less
frequent and more truly repented. 1t
is very hard to realize what solemn
thing is this influence, which you can
not help exerting. 20 t-.A a. fF
II will not do for you to try to ignore
your responsibility by saying:'"Am
my brothers keepero' Those who ex-
ercise an evil influence over others,
and by thousand trifies hinder Others
from travelling the right path are
equally guilty with the offender. And
It also happens that an evil influence
once exerted can rarely be effected by
future well-doing. 1t is not by the
Sunday-school lessons we give, the
pious books we read and the good
things we do when on our Sunday be-
havior, that we exert the greatest in
huence. but by the general tenor OF
our whole life.
We do not Judge of boys behavior
by his actions while under his teachers
eve; it is while at play or work among
his comrades that his true nature shines
forth. ttFf jIfN "a 81 4
Napoleon used to say that the great
want in France was good mothers; he
might have said with more justice that
The great want of the world was good
sisters. | often wonder il elder sisters
eyer reflect on the illimitable power In
their hands to- guide their younger
brothers and sisters.
Perhaps you think the little ones are
so young they will not notice what you
do; but that is great mistake. Chill
dren are very sharp observers, and seem
10 have an instructive appreciation OF
people's motives. They may not re-
member special great kindnesses you
have done them, but the influence OF
your daily example will 60 with them
through life II rests with yourself
whether that example is for good or
evil.
An old lady relates a sample incnent.
One day, when child, she was dress
inc some dolls when her eldest sister
came into her room and asked her what
she was doing it for. She replied'
somewhat rudely, that 1t was secret
and she could not tell her. Her sister,
instead of being angry, said;
oIf YOU like, ! will help you''
81 had only tne grace W soy
thank you,'" said the old lady; but
WAS SO much impressed by the thought
nj NV own rudeness, and my sister $
gentle answer, that have never for
Gotten it. 1t has kept me from bad
temper, and prompted me to 40 little
k;ndnesses many times in my life'
The elder sister, no doubt gave no
Thought to the influence she was ex-
.rtinS over the rude child, and never
knew the consequences OF her kindly
act But so 1t is always; it is not deeds
ii heroisln or self-denial which ,iniiu-
spcs children, but the small, almost
nnnotieed trifes of everyday life
A little bov often went to spend the
A,y with two ladies'. One of them ire
ouently gave him handsome presents,
ahiIe the other rarely, II ever did SO;
hut TO every ones surprise the ooy
showed an undisgused preference lor
the latter. ,,,a ,.;,. was.
..o, she is always so kind, even when
.he Is scolding you, you feel you can !
b. naughty with her?
No YOU imagine that it is necessary
10, an elder sister to preach to orotheis
.na s;sters-that would oe the very
warst course to pursue Your au'y ID