CONVERSATION IN THE HOME.
By L. D. Avery-Stuttle
BY MRS. L. D. AVERY-STUTTLE. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” No truer saying was ever penned than this. If one's ambitions and aspirations are altogether worldly, his conversation will be wholly of the earth, earthy. If his treasure is above, his heart will be in the same place; and if his heart and treasure are both above, his conversation will not be along the lines of gossip, greed, or selfishness. “Now,” says one, “you don't intend to lay down a rule to govern the very conversation of our homes, do you?” Certainly not; such a thing would be quite impracticable; for I tell you, the home conversation of any household will be governed to a great extent by the business, ambitions, and aspirations of its individual members. Brother Smith is a merchant. Every day at the dinner table, he and Harry, the oldest son, converse glibly about the business of the day—about trade, its possibilities and advantages, its gains and its losses. Sister Brown is a dressmaker. She considers it a part of her trade to be well posted about the latest fashions. Mary and Jimmie go to school; of course their marks of merit and demerit, what they have learned about this country or that, what problems they have demonstrated or what rules learned, come in for a goodly share of conversation. And all this is well, our God is not only a God of love, but He is reasonable. How do I know?—because He says: “Come now, and let us reason together;” and He has also said, “Be not slothful in business.” Now, of course he knows that we must talk concerning the business we are about. He only asks that while we do this, we be not too busy to give him a thought of gratitude, and to speak a word for Him whenever we have an opportunity. While we are busy with earthly cares, we can allow our thoughts to ascend to Him, and we can oftener converse about the heavenly reward. If we were expecting a great legacy, how often would we speak about it? How often would we discuss the probability of its coming? Think you that weeks and months would go by, with no mention of it at all? We would be deciding at once what we would do with our wealth,—what a fine mansion we would build, and what elegant furniture we would buy. Mary should have the piano she has so longed for, and Harry the fine horse. We would not need to be urged to talk about it—O, no. But we say that we are all heirs of an “inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.” We shall soon claim our inheritance—a mansion of delight in a city whose very streets are gold paved, whose walls are jasper, and whose gates are solid pearls. Would it not be well for us to do a little more talking about our inheritance? Do you wonder how long it will be before we shall claim our treasure?—Study the sure Word of prophecy; that will tell us, and tell us plainly that we need not wait much longer. Would we like to know how those mansions of gold will appear to our waiting eyes, and how the music of heaven will sound to our enraptured senses? Ah, the Master knew we would dwell upon that, He wants us to do it; but He answers all our theories with the assurance that “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” We have all heard the story of the poor servant girl, ignorant and unlettered, perhaps, in the eyes of the world, but precious in the sight of Him to whom the wisdom of this world is accounted foolishness. Being asked how she explained the text, “Pray without ceasing,” she replied:— “Why, when I sweep the house, I pray that God may sweep everything evil out of my heart. When I polish the silver, I pray that God will polish and refine my heart, until it will reflect His image. When I wash the clothes, I pray Him to wash me that I may be whiter than snow.” In the same way we may direct our conversation. Father comes home from the office anxious and worried. Business has gone wrong. He is quite undecided which of half a dozen ways is the wisest. Of course he mentions all this to his family—or ought to. “Seems to me,” says little Susie, “there's a pretty good verse for you, papa, I learned it in my Sabbath lesson.” “Well, my dear, what is the verse?” “If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” “Why, mother,” interrupts Annie, the oldest daughter, “do you believe that verse means that we are to ask God to show us how to do just the every-day affairs of life?” “Suppose we ask Susie what she thinks about it,” suggests papa. “I don't know anything about it, papa,” replies Susie, “only that the Bible says so,—and,—why; you believe the Bible don't you?” O the simple, blessed faith of childhood! Then, it is well often to review the events of the day. It helps the children wonderfully to feel that mother and father sympathize with them in all their little cares and worries and ambitions. It is well to question them,—draw them out. Let them know from blessed experience, that there is no one who really cares about them so much as you do. Let Jimmie tell all he can remember about his lessons to-day. The review will strengthen his memory and be edifying to the others. To-morrow at dinner, ask Mary to do the same. After awhile they will learn that this is expected of them, and will prepare for it. When a good book is read by any member of the family—and of course no other will be read—let the reader give a synopsis of the chapters he reads daily, and the family may discuss the same at pleasure. If this custom were but faithfully observed, it would not only strengthen the memory, but it would positively insure the complete banishment of dubious books. The Bible has a great deal to say about conversation,—for it is by our words that we are to be justified or condemned. O what an array of sinful words and foolish words and hasty and unkind words and impure words the books of record of the fast-hastening day of judgment will reveal! What a solemn thought that many in that day will fail of entering into life eternal, just because of a neglect to guard that little member—the tongue. Well has the apostle likened it to “a fire, a world of iniquity.” Among latter-day evils there is nothing more to be deplored than the habit of sandwiching the conversation with slang. It is not only foolish, useless, and silly, but it is disgusting to people of taste and refinement, and sinful in the sight of Him who hath said: “Let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” In conclusion: Let our conversation both at home and abroad be “without covetousness,” without evil speaking, without idle words, without foolish words, without slang phrases; but let our conversation be uplifting, clean, pure, godly,—and may we ever remember the words of the inspired psalmist: “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me; and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.”