“A few days ago,” says the teacher, when all was still, “I accidentally overheard some conversation between two of the boys of this school, and one of them swore.”

There was a pause.

“Perhaps you expect that I am now going to call the boy out and punish him.  Is that what I ought to do?”

There was no answer.

“I think a boy who uses bad language of any kind does what he knows is wrong.  He breaks God’s commands.  He does what he knows would be displeasing to his parents, and he sets a bad example.  He does wrong, therefore, and justly deserves punishment.”

There were, of course, many boys who felt that they were in danger.  Every one who had used profane language was aware that he might be the one who had been overheard, and, of course, all were deeply interested in what the teacher was saying.

“He might, I say,” continued the teacher, “justly be punished; but I am not going to punish him; for if I should, I am afraid that it would only make him a little more careful hereafter not to commit this sin when I could possibly be within hearing, instead of persuading him, as I wish to, to avoid such a sin in future altogether.  I am satisfied that that boy would be far happier, even in this world, if he would make it a principle always to do his duty, and never, in any case, to do wrong.  And then, when I think how soon he and all of us will be in another world, where we shall all be judged for what we do here, I feel strongly desirous of persuading him to abandon entirely this practice.  I am afraid that punishing him now would not do that.

“Besides,” continues the teacher, “I think it very probable that there are many other boys in this school who are sometimes guilty of this fault, and I have thought that it would be a great deal better and happier for us all if, instead of punishing this particular boy whom I have accidentally overheard, and who probably is not more to blame than many other boys in school, I should bring up the whole subject, and endeavor to persuade all the boys to reform.”

I am aware that there are, unfortunately, in our country a great many teachers from whose lips such an appeal as this would be wholly in vain.  The man who is accustomed to scold, and storm, and punish with unsparing severity every transgression, under the influence of irritation and anger, must not expect that he can win over his pupils to confidence in him and to the principles of duty by a word.  But such an appeal will not be lost when it comes from a man whose daily and habitual management corresponds with it.  But to return to the story: 

The teacher made some farther remarks, explaining the nature of the sin, not in the language of execration and affected abhorrence, but calmly, temperately, and without any disposition to make the worst of the occurrence which had taken place.  In concluding what he said, he addressed the boys as follows: