Troublesome Weeds

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 26, 1882

Troublesome Weeds.

EVERY one has a garden called Conversation. If the unpleasant words which blossom into thoughts are kept out, the garden becomes beautiful and interesting. There are a few kinds of weeds, which unconsciously creep into this garden, and unless they are put down, or better, pulled out, they injure and spoil the good flowers.

1. Untruth. This is dark-leaved and so small at first that it is scarcely noticed. In its early stages it is called exaggeration. You are not sure whether you saw three or four things and you say four. The next time the number becomes larger, and so the weed grows until it is strong and hardy. Be sure and pull it up.

2. Slang. This spoils many a garden of choice flowers. It is sometimes overlooked among boys, but is not considered to have any beauty.

3. Bad grammar. This is a common weed found in the gardens of uneducated and careless persons. It grows slowly but steadily, and finds a place beside the nicest looking flowers. There are a number of varieties and among them are “I seen,” which chokes up “I saw,” or “I have seen;” “it’s her’n,” which crowds out “it is hers;” and “it is me,” which grows close to the little plant “it is I.”

4. Gossip. Every one knows this ugly weed which works mischief wherever it appears. It is one of the worst varieties, and has been known to completely over-run and spoil the gardens in which it was allowed to grow.

These are the principal weeds which find their way into the garden of conversation. Examine the one belonging to you and see what weeds are gaining headway.—Scholars' Companion.