JACK'S SCAR
ALMOST every boy has some kind of a scar on his cheek, or his hand, or some other place; but Jack's scar is not like these. Jack is not a little boy. He is a young man, a conductor on a railroad train.
A great railroad has its headquarters in our town, so that almost everybody is either at work for the railroad company himself, or else has a father, or a brother or a cousin, who is.
Last week a conductor was killed; and while Jack, with a group of his comrades, stood sadly talking about the conductor's death, one of their number, a Christian gentleman, said: "There is hardly a man in the railroad service but has been in some way hurt, and carries some scar." Jack proudly replied that he had been in the employ of the railroad company for years, and he had never been hurt, he carried no scar; and, to make his statement stronger, he used some very wicked words; for he had learned to swear.
The gentleman looked sorrowfully at the young man. He knew that Jack had not been brought up to swear, but that he had kept company with profane boys and men until he had fallen into the habit almost unconsciously, scarcely knowing when he did swear.
The comrade thought of all this, and then said earnestly, "Jack, you do carry a scar."
But Jack again replied with an oath that he did not; he was very positive there was no scar upon him.
"Ah, Jack!" answered the Christian friend,
"You have a bad scar-in your mouth! "
Boys and girls, you may not be able to prevent the scars of accidents upon the hands or face, but I implore you to strive earnestly, all the time, fervently seeking the help of the Saviour, to keep your mouth and hearts free from the scars of sin.
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