The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-08-19

me is sharp speech, or the habit OF saying
unpleasant things. Now a Grabbed
| Christian is worse than a Grabbed anv
body else, because, If Christ really dwells
in the man, that very fact ought to sweet
en- his temper, and thus sweesen his
words. Yet, in spite of this fact, which
may not be truthfully disputed, many
who have been named with the name of
Christ and have his sign in their fore
heads, totally forget the s'soft answer
that turneth away wrath" and let out the
grievous words that "must needs stir up
anger" There are boys, yes and girls
too, for that matter, who lead a double
life, or in other words have two sets of
manners; the one for public use, and the
other for the home circle. The first is
very pleasant, the behavior to equals is
studiously polite, to interiors carefully
c0nsiderate and. to superiors properly
deferential. But the second set, or home
manners, are not so agreeable, in fact
very often quite the reverse. The mask,
worn in the world, is laid aside when the
home-door closes behind him, and the in
dividUal appears in his true colors, He
sees no necessity Of being kind and con-
| siderate to the home-folks, but scatters
the sharp words right and left without
regard to the misery caused thereby.
Did you never reflect upon what q DOW
erful engine, for good or Ill, God has CIV
en- us in the power of artlculate speech? ?
Some one has said, that swords are
things, and small drop of ink falling
like dew apon thought produces that
which makes thousands, perhaps mil
lions, think" II this be true OF the writ
ten word, how much more true of the
| spoken word, reinforced as it Is by trick
OF face, voice and manner. This thought
should lead one tosbe very careful when
by single word one may
IMPRESS HIS IMAGE FOR VEAL OR WOE
upon some human mind.
One day in New York, some years ago,
young lady, turning corner in a great
hurry, collided with little newsboy,
knocking his hat off and nearly rolling
him into the gutter. Recovering herself
as quickly as possible she exclaimed in
the kindest tones, 81 really beg your
pardon, my little man" The little fellow
gathered himself together and replied
You may knock me down again and
'tromp on me, il you want to-" AS the
young lady went on her way, the news
boy turned to comrade and remarked /:
''Tell you what, Jim, she nearly took my
breath away; never had anybody ak my
parding before" We may be sure that
the little Arab never forgot to his latest
day the young lady who axed his SPAR
ding" so powerful is the right word at
the right time. A second unlovely trait
in the Christian character is uncharitable
Judgment upon the doings of others.
There is nothing more unlovely than the
man who fails to see unmixed good In
anybody. He meets every commenda-
tion of his neighbor with Eyes, he may
be pretty good fellow, but" leaving
the Imagination Of the nearer to fill the
blank, if no specific accusation can be
brought. These are they who constitute
themselves as censors OF the neighbor-
hood morals and everyone must keep his
4 door shut and bolted il he would not fall
under the ban Of this self-constituted
watchdog of society. The effect of such
a character upon those under his super.
vision may be well illustrated by q little
incident which I found in my reading,
In a certain village dwelt a man whom
we will call Sharp, as best indicating his
leading characteristics. Nothing escaped
his eye, and the slightest deviation from
his standard of right and wrong was sure
TO receive his heaviest censure. On q
| certain Sunday evening simple minded
man, discovering that he had no kindlina
for the evening fire, went ont to his
Woodpile and was busily engaged in max.
ling up for his previous thoughtlessness
when neiRhbor came mp to the fence
and gave him good evening. The poor
fellow was startled. but on seeing who
addressed HIM, said: ssOh, It's you. ID
it? I thought it was cid Sharp "And
why should Sharp make you jump in that
waypv inquired the neighbor. ssWelI, !
wouldn't exactly like to have him see
me splitting wood on Sunday .sBut
will not God see you, all the same f'' said
bis friend. Eyes, suppose 80, replied
the woodcutter, but He won't make quite
so much fuss about it, Now Mr. SHARP,
and ali the rest Of the Sharp family may
be right according TO strict rules oil jus-
tiee, but 1t is well to bear in mind that all