gence of wandering thoughts which ought to be devoted to real study. Not only is time wasted in this manner, but the mind becomes seriously injured in the exercise of such mental dissipation. Such day-dreaming, castle-building employment is fatal to all real excellence in scholarship, as well as to all real progress in virtue. If we would be pure, we must shun every tendency which leads to the indulgence of improper thoughts.

Unchaste language.-Impure or unchaste language should never pollute our lips. In the fullness of youthful feelings there is a strong temptation to repeat the vulgar story, to recite the lascivious verse, or to tell a smutty joke. Never do it. People may laugh at the double entendre, or the witty play upon words, or even at the grosser kinds of vulgar speech, but if they possess any culture they heartily despise the author of their merriment. Such jokes are well named smutty. You can not touch smut without being soiled, so you can not indulge in smutty jokes without a loss of purity. As such a habit must be dangerous, it is written in the moral law for our guidance, "Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee."

Unchaste company.-Avoid the associations of the unchaste, for they are neither good society nor the society of the good. It is written, "Evil communications corrupt good manners." We insensibly imitate the manners, tastes, and language of those by whom we are surrounded, being unaware of the silent influences which are thus shaping our characters. This idea is beautifully expressed in the moral law: “As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man." As surely as the still surface of the

Is profanity meant by the expression unchaste language? Do they generally accompany each other? Why? Why not tell a funny, smutty joke? What does the text say of a froward mouth and perverse lips? Why not associate with the unchaste? Repeat the text. What is meant by good manners? What idea is expressed in the text, "As in water face answereth," etc.?

water mirrors all the features of the face, so surely shall the qualities of those with whom we associate, whether good or bad, be reflected in our hearts and lives. Not only is it unsafe to be in the society of the impure, but it is also perilous to our reputation to be seen in such company, if we aspire, at all, to enter the society of the good.

Unchaste literature. The prevalence of obscene, immoral, and vulgar publications requires a special notice. Many a youth who has gone to destruction owed his first downward step to the perusal of vicious and demoralizing literature. As physical health is preserved by the use of nutritious, life-giving food, and impaired by the want of it, so the intellectual and moral natures must be supplied with that nourishment which is adapted to their growth and development. We dare not indulge in the reading of immoral books, or the sight of obscene pictures or representations, if we desire to preserve unclouded minds and pure hearts. Such food is moral poison.

Everything that excites the imagination, inflames the passions, stimulates the curiosity, and corrupts the heart by unchaste suggestions, is to be shunned. Impure thoughts, vulgar language, vicious company, obscene books, and lascivious pictures are the bane of good society. No one who is subject, in any degree, to such influences can remain

pure.

Why not be seen in the company of the unchaste? Is the wrong found in being in such company or being seen in it? Why? What is meant by unchaste literature? What are given as the bane of good society? Does this include illustrated newspapers?

CHAPTER XI.

“Lying lips are abomination to the Lord, but they that deal truly are his delight."

VERACITY.

Lying. There is no precept of the moral law that is more frequently and shamefully violated than that which forbids lying, and yet there is nothing about which people generally are so sensitive as a doubt of their veracity.

Liar.—The term liar is one of the most opprobrious epithets which may be applied to a person, and its use has often been the cause of much mischief. This expression is very frequently not only much misunderstood, but badly misused. And just here, it is important to remember that words are the representatives of ideas, and if we use the wrong words to express our thoughts, we are liable to be misapprehended, and thus do ourselves and others injury.

Anecdote.-The following anecdote will illustrate the wrong use of terms. The celebrated John Wesley was on one occasion at table with some friends, when the lady of the house asked him to take another cup of tea. He declined then, but afterward, his appetite improving probably, he said he would be pleased to take another cup; when she, with much surprise, replied that "she did not know before that a minister would tell a lie." He answered that "he did not wish to tell a lie, but he thought that a minister

What is the subject of Chapter XI? Repeat the text. What is the meaning of abomination? Why is the epithet liar so offensive? Give the anecdote of John Wesley.

might change his mind." Her difficulty arose from not knowing what was meant by a lie, and, therefore, she was not only led into an act of gross impoliteness, but also of great injustice to an excellent man.

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A lie and an untruth.-Few persons make a distinction. between a lie and an untruth. That there is a most important difference may easily be perceived. An untruth may be defined as an assertion that is contrary to the fact," while a lie is the "assertion of an untruth with an intention to deceive." A lie is always an untruth, but an untruth is not always a lie. A man, from ignorance or misunderstanding, may assert what is untrue and not violate the moral law; but if what he says is contrary to the truth, and he knows it, he is guilty of lying.

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If my neighbor, for instance, shall say that America was discovered in 1620, he has made a misstatement, for such is not the truth, and it is plain that he has confounded the discovery of America with the landing of the Pilgrims. This he might have done without any intention to deceive: if, therefore, I say to him, "you have stated the fact incorrectly," or what you have stated is not true," do I charge him with lying? Certainly not. But if I tell him he lies, I mean that the statement he made was false, and that he knew it. It is plain that in making so grave a charge as that a person lies, we must have a clear and unquestionable proof, not only of the untruth, but also of the design to deceive.

Nothing is easier with vulgar people than to use hard names; first, because they are irritating, and such persons have no regard for the feelings of their neighbors; and, secondly, because they have really little regard for truth. A

Why did that woman attribute the lie to him? Why was it not a lie? Give the distinction between a lie and an untruth. Is an untruth always a lie? Why? What may cause a man to tell an untruth? Give the illustration above. What is the difference between telling a person he is mistaken and that he lies? character of people generally who use disgraceful epithets?

What is the

truly honorable man is very sensitive in all matters which appear to cast discredit upon his integrity or veracity, and, for this reason, the dishonorable man affects a sensitiveness he really does not feel. The latter may lie, and cheat, and steal, and his distress arises, not from doing these dishonorable acts, but in being discovered and told of it.

Anecdote.-A story is told of a man who had a quarrel with a mathematician, and, after considerable abuse, concluded by calling him a liar. Preserving his temper, the latter calmly replied, "You have called me a liar, which is a very grave charge against one who claims to be a gentleman. Now, if you can prove it, it must be true, and I shall be ashamed of myself; but if you can not prove it, it is you who should be ashamed, because you state what is not true for purposes of mischief. It is you, then, who are the liar."

White lies and black.—As a lie is any intentional violation of the truth, it is plain that to make a lie it is not necessary to use spoken language; it may be uttered in words, or signs, or gestures of the head, or motions of the body. A pupil may cough a lie to deceive his teacher in school-in short, any means taken to create a false impression is a lie. It is no less a lie when told by the old to the young, than by the young to the old; by the parent to the child, than by the child to the parent. When the mother says to her little child, "The bears will catch you if you go into the street," she lies. She knows there are no bears there. Many children are taught to lie in this manner.

A lie may be told by uttering only a part of the truth, and keeping back some facts which are necessary to a complete knowledge of the whole. Again, it may consist in an

What is the difference given between the honorable and dishonorable man? Give the anecdote. What was the wisdom of the reply? Is it necessary to speak to make a lie? Are any lies innocent? Give the various ways in which lies may be used.