"I never will tell a naughty story," said Susy.
"Don't say you never will. You may be tempted, some time, more than you ever have been. But ask God, who is the God of truth, to keep you from doing it. How thankful you ought to be that you have been taught to pray! For the Bible says that no man can tame the tongue. That is, no one can, of himself, keep from saying what he ought not to say. And his only way is to keep praying to God to bridle his tongue for him."
"My tongue isn't a good little servant, then," said Susy.
"God can make it good, and teach it to bless and praise Him."
Then Susy's mamma took down her Bible and read several verses from it.
"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile."
"The tongue of the just is as choice silver."
"Whose keepeth his tongue, keepeth his soul from troubles."
"He that telleth lies shall not tarry in My sight."
"As soon as you learn to write, my dear Susy, I will make a little book in which you can write all that the Bible says about this. You will be astonished to find how much there is about speaking the truth, speaking kindly, and speaking wisely. And of our dear Saviour it says that when his enemies reviled him, "as a lamb before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not His mouth." Now the next time you see Thomas, I think it likely he will say a good many things to vex you, and I want you to remember, when he does so, how Jesus did, and what you should do."