The Broken Vase

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 27, 1876

“DEAR MOTHER,” said a delicate little girl, “I have broken your china vase!”

“Well, you are a naughty, careless, troublesome little thing, always in mischief—go up stairs until I send for you.”

And this was a Christian mother’s answer to the tearful little culprit, who had struggled with and conquered the temptation to tell a falsehood to screen a fault.

With a disappointed, disheartened look, the child obeyed; and in that moment was crushed in her little heart the sweet flower of truth, perhaps never to be revived to life! Oh, what were a thousand vases in comparison!