The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-12
Copyright, I9l5.)


OF all the virtues we mothers must
breed into our children the first and
greatest is love of truth. Truth tell
ing is the very keystone of the arch
or, more accurately. the builders
stone" in the fOundation-without
which the edifce will be a bad piece
of work INTELLECTUALLY.
In teaching our children to be
truthful. We must rigidly watch our
own words and actions-guard against
the slightest deviation from the
straight and narrow path ourselves,
for eXample-in this as in all our
teaching-is far more potent than pre-
cept. As ! have told you over ana
over again. dear mothers. rearing
children is the most effective method
of sclf-disCipline God has put within
our reach in this world. Only as we
train ourselves in doing good can
we rightly instruct the little ones
sent to us to guard and guide in the
puzzling maze of this life of ours.
Tell that lady mother is not at
home" That was the instruction l
was Mortified to hear given a little
mite of seven by a mother in whose
house 1 was being entertained a few
weeks ago. We were getting ready
to go to our club meeting. that moth
er and l, and to our dismay saw
woman coming up the path from the
gate. We knew her as sitter
one who had no special interests OF
her own in life-who spent her time
going about calling on other women
and gossiping about the neighbors.
had been there before and had given
precious hours to listening to this
caller, and ! dreaded the inva sion a.
heartily as did my hostess, but never
theIess 1 could not see how she could
stoop to the lie. ] almost held my
the front door and in fiute-like, child
ish treble piped out the ugly false
hood. Mother is not at home. Mrs.
Brown"
OF course the caller was well aware
the mother was at home. She knew
IT was the day for our meeting. she
knew We would not have gone to II
so long before the appointed hour.
Perhaps-oh, charitable thought--she
even came to accompany Us to the
meeting. She gave the child a ques-
tioning glance. hesitated a moment,
and then turned and went hastily
away. 1 saw her turn in at a neigh
boris gate a little way up the street
and I wondered IL my hostess had a
shred OF reputation for truth left
when the two gossips got through
with their discussion % the matter.
And. a little later. when we passed
the neighbours house on our way to
the meeting, 1 glanced apprehensive-
" at the parlor windows and / could
have sworn 1 saw the window curtains
move as If a watcher were stationed
behind them
Wen. do you wonder that the little
girl made use of ind!rection in her
turn? That same evening. after our
return from the mothers meeting,
where we had discussed the superior
fly of example over precept, there
was a scanty supply Of cake on the
plate set on the supper table. My
hostess observed it after We were
seated and rang the bell sharply for
the maid
Stella" she said, abruptly, when
the maid entered. why did you not
cut more cake? There is not enough
TO &c around. Fill the plate. please"
Wondering. the maid looked at the
half empty plate. why. l filed II
before 1 put IT on the table" she ex-
cused herself. Some one must have
the little girl as she spoke.
'Lettie, did you eat some of the
cake?" the mother asked.
~ wasn't in the house, mother" the
child replied. II was out in the
swing" But she did not look up with
a straightforward gaze. and We all
knew that she was the culprit. The
mother said nothing more. the plate
was reflled and the incident passed
without further comment
All evening 1 was weighed down by
a heavy depression. How exactly like
the mothers excuse to her caller was
her child's denial of having eaten the
cake. Neither OF them was at homei
What chance has that dear child to |
learn to speak the truth? Think Of
it. mothers; examine your own con- |
duct. weigh your own words, and II |
you are not always strictly truthful \
!n your dealings with others. resolve |
that you will make no slips In flu |
trre.
Teacher your children to be truth |
ful. always. mothers, but teach them
at the same time to be tactful, and
the Truth will hurt no ones feelings-