—­Byron.

  Oh, Conscience!  Conscience! man’s most faithful friend,
    Him canst thou comfort, ease, relieve, defend;
  But if he will thy friendly checks forego,
    Thou art, oh! woe for me his deadliest foe!

  —­Crabbe.

CONSEQUENCES

A teacher asked her class in spelling to state the difference between the words “results” and “consequences.”

A bright girl replied, “Results are what you expect, and consequences are what you get.”

Consequences are unpitying.  Our deeds carry their terrible consequences, quite apart from any fluctuations that went before—­consequences that are hardly ever confined to ourselves.—­George Eliot.

CONSIDERATION

The goose had been carved at the Christmas dinner and everybody had tasted it.  It was excellent.  The negro minister, who was the guest of honor, could not restrain his enthusiasm.

“Dat’s as fine a goose as I evah see, Bruddah Williams,” he said to his host.  “Whar did you git such a fine goose?”

“Well, now, Pahson,” replied the carver of the goose, exhibiting great dignity and reticence, “when you preaches a speshul good sermon I never axes you whar you got it.  I hopes you will show me de same considerashion.”

A clergyman, who was summoned in haste by a woman who had been taken suddenly ill, answered the call though somewhat puzzled by it, for he knew that she was not of his parish, and was, moreover, known to be a devoted worker in another church.  While he was waiting to be shown to the sick-room he fell to talking to the little girl of the house.

“It is very gratifying to know that your mother thought of me in her illness,” said he, “Is your minister out of town?”

“Oh, no,” answered the child, in a matter-of-fact tone.  “He’s home; only we thought it might be something contagious, and we didn’t want to take any risks.”

CONSTANCY

A soldier belonging to a brigade in command of a General who believed in a celibate army asked permission to marry, as he had two good-conduct badges and money in the savings-bank.

“Well, go-away,” said the General, “and if you come back to me a year from today in the same frame of mind you shall marry.  I’ll keep the vacancy.”

On the anniversary the soldier repeated his request.

“But do you really, after a year, want to marry?” inquired the General in a surprised tone.

“Yes, sir; very much.”

“Sergeant-Major, take his name down.  Yes, you may marry.  I never believed there was so much constancy in man or woman.  Right face; quick march!”

As the man left the room, turning his head, he said, “Thank you, sir; but it isn’t the same woman.”

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