DON'T READ THEM | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 38.

DON'T READ THEM.

'THERE'S a tiptop book, Ellis, you can take to read if you want to. I've just read it, and it's a splendid story.'

'Then I should like to read it. I don't very often get a chance at a new book. But I think books are the best of anything, and when I'm a man I mean to have stacks of them. Mother and I read together, and then we talk over what we've been reading about; so it's twice as good as if I read it alone.'

'Is that the way you do?'

'Of course it is. Why shouldn't I? Mother and I are all the family there is left, and we do everything we can together. I tell you, my mother is the best company I ever had. She is as good as she can be. She goes singing around the house, making a fellow feel rich no matter what he has for dinner.'

'Ain't she old?'

'No, and it wouldn't make any difference if she was; she'd be my mother all the same.'

'To be sure she would. But if you take this book, you must keep it out of her sight and read it on the sly.'

'Why must I?'

'Because she won't like it. My mother'd make a great fuss if she knew I read such a book.'

'Then what do you read it for? What is the matter with the book? You said it was splendid.'

'So it is, but your mother would not think so.'

'Then it is not so, for I tell you my mother knows. I will not read anything on the sly. I do not do business that way, and I advise you not to. My mother knows best.'

'If you think so, I do not suppose it is any use to try to make you think different.'

'No, sir, it is not; and I advise you to do as your mother wants you to. You have a bad book, or you would not talk about it as you do, and you had better burn it up.'

So one boy was loyal to his mother and to his own higher nature; but two others were found who could be more easily influenced.

They read the book, though, and talked of the exciting scenes described in it, and were thus prepared for further reading of the same kind. Lessons were neglected, and occasionally there was a day's truancy from school. The evil did not stop there. Absolute falsehoods followed fast upon deception; and then a petty theft was committed in the village. It was charged at once to the three boys who were constantly together and who were known to be habitual readers of highly sensational books and papers. They were suspected of reading even worse books, and all this told against them.

For their parents' sake they were saved the disgrace of a public trial. Upon acknowledgment of their guilt and promise of amendment, the prosecution against them was withdrawn and every effort was made to reclaim them from their evil ways. But the die was cast. Vile books had done their work of pollution. These boys grew up reckless, dissipated men, with low tastes and gross manners, while the boy who trusted his mother was honorable and honored.

Don't do anything on the sly, for be sure your sin will find you out. Don't look at a picture you would not be willing to show to mother.

The boys tried in our courts for the commission of crimes, are those who have read bad books; the boys who are serving out sentences in houses of correction and State prisons, are those who have read bad books.

Don't read them. Don't trust yourself to read one.

Evil communications corrupt good manners, and evil words upon a printed page corrupt both soul and body. Do not read them.—National Presbyterian.