The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1893-11-08
Count Up to Six, Any Way,
Dick"
BY THE REV. EDWARD A. RAND.

BY THE REV. EDWARD A. RAND.
"Dick, do you know who was on
the other side of the fence between
the school yard and Commodore
Morton's garden, -recess-t time, l
mean, when you boys were out?"
asked Dick Jameson's teacher, Mr..
Palfrey.
CT didn't notice, Mr.. Palfrey;
but it was some old codger, and !
didn't know but it was a scarecrow,
possibly. 1 gave that up, though;
for it moved as l kept looking
through a knot-hole in the fence"
"Do you remember what you
said2"
Dicks face colored.
cit wasn't anything very compli-
mentary. Gracious, or Jimmy, if
there isn't a brick-a-a'- 1 for
get the rest"
at was Commodore Morton out
working. He recognized your voice,
and he thinks my boys are not re-
spectful. He has complained to me,
and is very much grieved because
'Nelghbor Jameson's boy didn't re-
spect an old man."
"Why, l did't know it was Com
modore Morton I'll tell him so
right off, and tell him I'm very sor-
ry. l wouldn't hurt his feelings for
anything"
THAT is right, Dick; l know you
wouldn't hurt his feelings knowing
ly for anything, or the feelings of
anybody else. But one thing more.
You told me what you said as far as
you could remember. Don't you
think you peppered pretty we'll with
expletives the one sentence you
gave me2"
Dick hung his head.
eyes, sir"
Don't you think you get them
off pretty often?"
Eyes, sir. But, Mr.. Palfrey, I get
them off before l think. l don't
mean anything; but out they pop.
one after another, whole string of
them-gracious"-
Dicks hands went up to his lips
like q stopper to the mouth of a jug.
Mr.. Palfrey laughed
"There it is, Dick Now let me
suggest something. You don't want
to grow up into one of these beings
whose talk is all full of slang and
roughness"-
"I'm sure I don't; but I have got
into such a habit"
"That is it. Habits have much
to do with the making of us. We
get into a certain way of doing
things, and that way has much to
do with the question whether one
man will turn out a saint and the
next man a rogue. We must look
out for habits in every direction,-
in matters like going to church, like
prayer or reading our Bibles, like
careful speech, like neatness and
order. Now let me make a sugges-
ton. When you find YOURSELF
"If-if- III tell you, Mr.. Pal
frey" said Dick, in his eager
way-'if had string hitched to
little cover that would Just fit over
my mouth, and then, when l feel
the word coming, just witch the
string, and drop that cover on my
mouth How'8 that2"
When they had stopped laughing,
it was Mr.. Palfrey who said, That
is quite an idea I'll tell you some
thing that will do as well, and you
won't have to turn your mouth into
a box. cover, and disGgure it. Dick
you begin to count. Count up to
six, any way, Dick One-two-
three-four-fv e-six. That viii
be better than pulling string By
the time you have got to six, you
will have begun to think and it is
because people don't think that 80
much harm is done in this world.
If people would only think when
tempted"-
cor count -two-three-
-fve-sixl ] will. Mr.. Palfrey,
I will try real hard to break up that
habit, for j know it isn't a good one
And III go to see Commodore Nor.
ton now, right off"