The Profane Soldier's Reform.
A few months ago, a soldier, who when a boy, had been taught to swear by his father, and learned his lessons well, was lying in his tent at dead of night, unable to sleep. Upon the still air of his canvas home came the oaths of his comrades engaged in conversation. He listened awhile, and said to himself, "Is it possible, that swearing sounds as horribly to others as it does now to me?" He tried to sleep, but the profanity came with still harsher, viler discord upon his ear, while thus alone with God and conscience. Rising, he went forth and expostulated with his comrades to their astonishment; and with the reason, gave his pledge to abstain entirely henceforward from the vice. He has kept his promise, though not a Christian. If thus in moments of calm reflection, under the curtain of night, the oath sounded upon the wakeful ear of the swearer himself, how terrific will be its thunder when it echoes through the gloom of eternity's despair!