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HABITS

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 20, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 16.

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HABITS.

NED was watching grandpa put on his shoes. "Why do you turn 'em over to shake 'em before you put 'em on?" he asked.
"Did I?" said grandpa.
"Why, yes, you did; but I didn't see anything come out. I have to shake the sand out of my shoes 'most every morning."
Grandpa laughed. "I didn't notice that I shook my shoes, Ned; but I got in the habit of shaking my shoes every time before putting them on when I was in India."
"Why did you do it there?"
"To shake out scorpions or centipedes or other vermin that might be hidden in them."
"But you don't need to do it here, for we don't have such things."
"I know; but I formed the habit, and now I do it without thinking."
"Habit is a queer thing, isn't it?" said Ned.
"It's a very strong thing," said grandpa, "remember that, my boy. A habit is a chain that grows stronger every day, and it seems as if a bad habit grows strong faster than a good one. If you want to have good habits when you are old, form them while you are young, and let them be growing strong all the while you live."—Mayflower.