verhearing one
of her boys using what she called "dirty words," took him to the sink,
and washed out his mouth, not sparing the soap! Sometimes when we have
heard men defiling their tongues with filthy talk, we have wished their
mothers had served them the same.

Nor is this offence against God and good taste always confined to the
ignorant. There are those who have been well taught--men of ability, and
some who make a profession of religion, who indulge in unseemly language,
and delight in stories which are termed "smutty." We know how farmers
dislike the "smut" in their wheat, how an otherwise good crop will be
lowered in value, because the black grain will, when ground, darken the
flour. Is it not so with these men of unclean lips? The filthy
allusions and improper stories which pollute their conversation make
their life infectious, and their companionship dangerous. Let us reprove
them, or at least avoid them, as we would the plague.

If we would keep a clean tongue, we must pray "Create in me a clean
heart, O God!" This can be done, and the Lord, who has told us that He
will not admit into His heaven that which worketh abomination, will
gladly cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of His holy
Spirit, then shall our tongue glorify Him continually.

Should this fall into the hands of one of those whose foul tongue shews
that his heart is corrupt, we would ask him how he would like to have his
conversation reported by a short-hand writer, and printed in the
"Standard," or "Daily News," with his name attached? But is it not a
fact, that his words are being taken down, and when the books are opened
before an assembled universe at the last day, will not his soul tremble,
as he finds that God has listened all the time, and the language used
years ago, is to control his destiny, for He who will come to be our
Judge has said to the swearer and filthy speaker--

"BY THY WORD THOU SHALT BE CONDEMNED."

A WORD TO FATHERS.

Have you ever thought how it is that in the prayer we call our Lord's,
God is spoken of as Father? Do you not see that your child calls you by
one of the names--the Christ-chosen name of the Devine Being? Is there
not a sermon in that to everyone of us who has children of his own?
Perhaps you have never given the matter a thought that for some of the
early years of you children you may be giving them a caricature of God in
your ungodly conduct. Let us lay this to heart,