The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-08-02
YOUR INFLUENCE.


'The evil that men do lives after
them, the good is oft inferred with
their BONES" wrote Shakespeare, and
it probably is as true to-day as it was
centuries ago 1t 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
character of those around us.
1t is 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
exercise an influence on her
companions. 1t may be confined
to those near her at first, but it after
ward reaches further than she can fol-
low it. So, when a stone is thrown in
to pond, it makes a ripple, and that
ripple makes another, and so on until
the circling eddies reach far into the
distance.
Thus it is with your life. Are you
sweet-tempcred, forgivi1g and oblig-
ing? You may be sure that those about
you are influenced by your conduct, al
though they may say nothing about it.
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, hasty, angry word, rudeness
or meanness of any kind would be less
frequent and more truly repented. 1t
is very hard to realize what a solemn
thing is this influence, which you can
not help exerting.
~ w III liou to All you w Wy w AZ hohC
your responsibility by saying: '"Am 1
my brothers keeper" 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. II 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
fluence, but by the general tenor Of
our whole life.
We do not judge of boys behavior
by his actions while under his teachers
eye; it is while at play or work among
his comrades that his true nature shines
forth.
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 if elder sisters
ever 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
to have an instructive appreciation OF
peoples motives They may not re-
member special great kindnesses you
have done them, but the influence of
your daily example will go with them
. through life. 1t rests with yourself
whether that example is for good OF
evil.
An old lady relates sample incident
One day, when child, she was dress
ing some dolls when her eldest sister
came into her room and asked her wha,
she was doing it for. She replied
somewhat rudely, that it was secret
and she could not tell her. Her sister
instead of being angry, said:
"If you like, l will help YOU"
81 had only the grace to say a gruf
thank you." said the old lady; "but
was so much impressed by the thought
of my own rudeness, and my sisters
lgentle answer, that l have never for
gotten it. 1t has kept me from bat
temper, and prompted me to do little
kindnesses many times in my life"
The elder sister, no doubt, gave ne
thought to the influence she was ex
erting over the rude child, and never
knew the consequences of her kindly
act. But so it is always; it is not deed'
of heroism or self-denial which infiu
encs children, but the small, almos
unnoticed trifles of everyday life.
A little boy often went to spend tn,
day with two ladies. One of them FIRE
quently gave him handsome presents
while the other rarely, if ever, did SO
but, to every ones surprise, the DO.
showed an undisguised preference 70
the latter.
The only reason he could give was
"oh. she is always so kind, even whel
she is scolding you, yeu feel you can
bt naughty with her!"
Do you imagine that it is necessar
for an elder sister to preach to brother
! and s;sters-that would be the YER
worst course to pursue. Your duty