Thus you perceive that while the words of the traveller were literally true, they conveyed an intentional falsehood to the tythingman, and therefore the traveller was guilty of deception. I know that people sometimes think these tricks very witty, but they are very wicked. Truth would be of no value, if it might be used for the purposes of deception; it is because truth forbids all deception, and requires open dealing, that it is so much prized. It is always a poor bargain to give away truth for the sake of a momentary advantage, or for the purpose of playing off an ingenious trick. To barter truth for fun or mischief is giving away gold for dross. Every time a person tells a lie, or practises a deception, he inflicts an injury upon his mind, perhaps not visible to the eye of man, but as plain to the eye of God as a scar upon the flesh. By repeated falsehoods, a person may scar over his whole soul, so as to make it offensive in the sight of that Being whose love and favour we should seek, for his friendship is the greatest of all blessings. Truth is the great thing to be sought, and B falsehood the chief thing to be avoided. Truth is the foundation of most other virtues-of honesty, justice, and fidelity. No character is so much prized as that of a lover of truth, none so much despised as the liar and the deceiver, for falsehood lies at the bottom of almost every vice. The Horse and his Groom. A groom, whose business it was to take care of a certain horse, let the animal go loose into the field. After a while, he wanted to catch him, but the brute chose to run about at liberty, rather than be shut up in the stable; so he pranced about the field and kept out of the groom's way. The groom now went to the granary, and got the measure with which he was wont to bring the horse his oats. When the horse saw the measure, he thought to be sure that the groom had some oats for him; and so he went up to him, and was instantly caught and taken to the stable. Another day, the horse was in the field, and refused to be caught. So the groom again got the measure, and held it out, inviting the horse, as before, to come up to him. But the animal shook his head, saying, "Nay, master groom; you told me a lie the other day, and I am not so silly as to be cheated a second time by you." "But," said the groom, "I did not tell you a lie; I only held out the measure, and you fancied that it was full of oats. I did not tell you there were oats in it." "Your excuse is worse than the cheat itself," said the horse. "You held out the measure, and thereby did as much as to say, "I have got some oats for you." Actions speak as well as words. Every deceiver, whether by words or deeds, is a liar; and nobody, that has been once deceived by him, will fail to shun and despise him ever after. CHAPTER IV. THE CHOICE, OR GOOD AND EVIL. THERE are few persons who do precisely as they ought to do. It is very seldom that any one, even for a single day, discharges every duty that rests upon him, at the same time avoiding everything that is wrong. There is usually something neglected, delayed, or postponed, that ought to be done to-day. There is usually some thought entertained, some feeling indulged, some deed committed, that is sinful. If any person doubts this, let him make the experiment; let him closely watch every thought and action for a single day, and he will perceive that what we say is true-that all fall far short of perfect obedience to the rule of right. And yet, if a person can once make up his mind to do right, it is the surest way to obtain happiness. I shall endeavour to illustrate this by an allegory: The Garden of Peace. In an ancient city of the East, two youths were passing a beautiful garden. It was inclosed by a lofty trellis, which prevented their entering; but, through the openings, they could perceive that it was a most enchanting spot. It was embellished by every object of nature and art that could give beauty to the landscape. There were groves of lofty trees, with winding avenues between them: there were green lawns, the grass of which seemed like velvet: there were groups of shrubs, many of them in bloom, and scattering delicious fragrance upon the atmosphere. |