MENTAL PREPARATION. 199 



parable. To have the "still small voice" strong 

 and imperative in its demands means self con- 

 trol, honor, virtue and nobility of character. 

 Pity the parents who are endeavoring to direct 

 children into whose very souls have been inter- 

 woven the threads of deception. 



The tendency toward deception is transmis- 

 sible. Lying, like gambling and thieving, runs 

 through families. I once studied a family in 

 which the mother was an inveterate prevaricator. 

 She would tell whatever seemed most expedient fflj* a Family 

 and. seemingly had no conscientious scruples in 

 so doing. The father was comparatively hon- 

 est. Of the seven children, one daughter close- 

 ly resembled the father and was very conscien- 

 tious ; none of the other six could be relied upon. 

 All persons of wide experience have observed 

 like cases. 



A mother, who was engaged in an agency busi- 

 ness in which deception greatly multiplied sales, 

 came to me much worried because her little girl A Mother's 

 born under these circumstances, was so deceit- Expmoc. 

 ful that she could place no confidence in her, 

 while her children born before she entered upon 

 this commercial career were comparatively hon- 

 est. 



It behooves prospective parents to be honest. 

 Honest with each other, not simply in conduct, 

 but in character. In addition to being honest 

 in thought, word and deed, for the benefit of . 



their own souls, and for the inheritance of their Conscience, 

 offspring as well, they should put the suggestion 

 of honesty into the subjective mind. "I am 

 honest." "I do not practice deception." "I will 



