The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-10-13

day.
"Perfectly proper, Nell," said l.
Lying lips are an abomin ton to
the Lord too
well, l really can see no excuse for
a lie"
Cant you? l can. Unwarranted
curiosity about ones private affairs.
For instance, you must surely recall
the time that prying Miss Staples
asked you If you were engaged, before
soul knew of your engagement out
side the family. Do you remember +
what you said?"
My sister blushed. "Yes-1-lied."
"You did, Nell; and it was justifi-
able act, tool"
I'm not sure of that. l think, if
such an instance should occur now, |
could escape with neither confession
nor lies"
"Possibly-"
Il always did try to speak tie
truth" continued Nell. "But believe
l dislike lies much more since have
children. l do SO hate to have them
untruthful."
l laughed, recalling some of little
Franks latest prevarications. "Did
You have such siege of it with
Doris?" 1 asked
Doris has had her time, but the
motive in her case was different one,
frank is ingenious, and originates a
lie to gain some end, principally for
the pleasure of his stomach. Doris is
tempted by fear, or rather shame, be.
cause OF some naughty thing she
wishes to hide"
asked. in surprise, not having no.
ticc anything Of the kind in the five
year old.
"Yes; occasionally; but can gener.
elly get her to be perfectly truthful
by not making too much of the offense
she is trying to conceal. She under.
stands now that can endure the
knowledge of any sin if she is straight
forward in confessing it. 1t surprises
me, however, that it should take so
long to teach my children to be
truthful"
Perhaps you are reaping the har-
vest OF your lie to Miss Staples!"
"Don'tl" said Nell, shivering. "But,
really. l have tried so constantly never
to be severe with Doris when she tells
me OF wrong-doing that cannot un-
terstand why l must still handle her
SO carefully. Often must coax the
truth from her, but never conscious
~ let her go without getting her to
tell me it ALL"
Both the children have good imag-
nations" said.
Yes; but they rearely are untruth-
ful from the impulse of that alone. A
few times they have told me of events
that l knew had not occurred; and /
rave said at the end: That's make
believe story, isn't it?' And they ad-
mitted it frankly enough"
Then, too, don't you think children
sometimes dream things that seem to
them true?"
Undoubtedly, we must make allow
ance for that
WELL l said, Doris and Frank
trust you simplicity, Nell; and that will
certainly make your task easier"
Yes" said my sister, looking
pleased. Il think they do trust me,
and they ought to. l have never con-
eclous'y told either child the whitest
kind OF lie. How could l expect
them to be truthful if they heard
me say what was not true? AS it is,
believe when they are older they
Will grow to love truth as much as
DO. We often talk about fairies and
brownies, and they understand these
are creatures of fancy. And, per-
maps, as something more of a reality,
we have looked upon Santa Claus. For
l want my children to have all the
fun that others do, and I half believe
IN the jolly old man myself. But last
christmas eve Doris said, as un-
dressed her: is Santa Claus really
or believing, mammal And what
could l do? Was to tell nv child a
hrst lie merely to give her little more
fun?"
i know we'll enough what you did,"
Ireplied.
4. OF course said, ITS only believ-
ing. Doris, like the brownies Who
gives US the presents, mamma?' Doris
asked. oh, papa and mamma and
friends, l answered. But want you
10 get just as much fun out of it as
1t were true. So when you wake
up tomorrow and find your stockings
.uii' hope you'll say, just as if it were
tINe2 s4,oo6v roodvf Son%o rloue