[Illustration:  Fig. 78]

“But, as we turn from the big silent stream and wander through the woods our ears catch the sound of falling waters, and then we come suddenly upon a scene like this. [Draw the second landscape, completing Fig. 79.] It is a pretty little brook, you say.  Yes, it is, but we smile as we compare the noisy little stream with the mighty silent river, and our minds dwell upon the fact that they are but reflections of life itself.  Just as the little brook makes more noise than the big river, so do many people with small minds cause more agitation and trouble in a community than people whose lives are governed by the principles of charity, kindness and common sense.

[Illustration:  Fig. 79]

“Let us watch, therefore, to see that our thoughts as well as our words are such as to add to the happiness of those about us.  Calmness and carefulness will accomplish this.  Let us guard well against the ill-spoken word, however harmless it may seem.

“Said one girl to another, ‘Don’t you think Julia is a splendid girl?’

“Oh, yes,’ responded the other, ’but I have sometimes wondered whether or not she is always sincere in what she says.’

“How easy it is to attach a sting to an innocent remark!  Our lightly-spoken words may blight the life of an innocent one, for words repeated are like the rolling snowball which grows larger as it is pushed over the fallen snow.  As one dog, howling in the night, causes all the other dogs in town to howl, so we may start a needless alarm by a single unfair word.

“Let us praise the good, always, for none—­not even ourselves—­is perfect.”

THE DECEITFULNESS OF SIN
    —­Sin
    —­Allurement

The Modern Artificial Fishing Bait As an Illustration of
Seductiveness.

THE LESSON—­That sin gains its victims through the most alluring deception.

This illustration should prove valuable in presenting to the minds of boys of all ages the truth of the seductiveness of sin, as the treatment of the subject brings in a discussion of a sport with which all are more or less familiar.

The Talk.

“At the beginning of our talk today, I am going to place on the drawing paper the picture of a fish. [Draw Fig. 80, complete.] It looks like a very large fish, but, as a matter of fact, it is a very greatly enlarged picture of a very little fish.  In reality, it is a minnow only about three inches long, the kind which the bigger fish like for dessert, and which, therefore, are usually pretty careful where they go.

[Illustration:  Fig. 80]