A Bad Habit.


"0, mother I am tired to death.'" said Jane

Mills, as she threw herself into a chair, on her

return from school.

"Tired to death!" repeated her mother, slowly.

"Yes mother I am; almost, I mean," she added

"No, my daughter, nor even almost," said

Mrs. Mills. "

"Well, at any rate," continued Jane, "I wouId

not walk from here to school again, to-day for

anything in the world!"

"O, yes you would, my dear," said her mother,

gently.

“No, mother, I am sure I would not; I am

certain nothing would tempt me."

"But I am nearly certain you could be induced

to go without any urging," answered her mother.

"Well, mother, try me, and see if anything

could make me willing to go."

"Suppose,, said Mrs. Mills, "I should offer to

take you to the panorama this afternoon? I expect to visit it."

"Do you, mother?" said Jane, with great animation.

"May I go? You promised to take me

when you went."

"I intended to have done so," replied her

mother; " but the place where it is exhibited is a

very long way beyond your school."

"But I am quite rested now, dear mother!"

said Jane. "I would not fail of going for all the

world! Why do you smile, mother?"

"To think what an inconsistent little daughter

I have."

"What do you mean by inconsistent, mother."

"Why, when a little girl says, one minute, that

she would not walk a particular distance 'for anything

in the world,' and in the next minute says

'she would not fail' of walking still farther ' for

all the world,' she not only talks inconsistently 

or extravagantly but foolishly. It is a very bad

habit to use such expressions.

"Yesterday, when you came home from school,

you said you were almost frightened out of your

life, and when I inquired as to the cause of your

alarm, you replied that you had met as many as

a thousand cross dogs on your way home from

school. Now, my daughter, I wish you to break

yourself of this bad habit. When you are tired,

or hungry, or frightened, use the simple words

that express your meaning. For instance, you

may be tired, very tired, -or exceedingly tired; or

you may be alarmed, or frightened, or terrified.

"From this time let your lips speak the thing

you mean. The Bible says,' Let your yea be

yea, and your nay, nay; and adds that 

whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.'

 Will you try to remember what I have been 

saying, and strive to correct this fault, my dear 

child ?" said Mrs. Mills.

"Yes, dear mother," replied Jane; "for I

know it is wrong, and I feel ashamed and sorry

for it."

"Well my dear," added her mother, "improve?

And now you may get ready to go with me to

see the panorama." 


Teacher's Offering.

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"THERE is joy in the presence of the angels

of God over ONE sinner that repenteth."