PART VI.
DIALOGUE THE SECOND. ON THE DUTY OF CARRYING RELIGION INTO OUR AMUSEMENTS.
The next evening Will Simpson being got first to his work, Mr. Stock found him singing very cheerfully over his last. His master's entrance did not prevent his finishing his song, which concluded with these words:
"Since life is no more than a passage at best,
Let us strew the way over with flowers."
When Will had concluded his song, he turned to Mr. Stock, and said, "I thank you, master, for first putting it into my head how wicked it is to sing profane and indecent songs. I never sing any now which have any wicked words in them."
Stock. I am glad to hear it. So far you do well. But there are other things as bad as wicked words, nay worse perhaps, though they do not so much shock the ear of decency.
Will. What is that, master? What can be so bad as wicked words?
Stock. Wicked thoughts, Will. Which thoughts, when they are covered with smooth words, and dressed out in pleasing rhymes, so as not to shock modest young people by the sound, do more harm to their principles, than those songs of which the words are so gross and disgusting, that no person of common decency can for a moment listen to them.
Will. Well, master, I am sure that was a very pretty song I was singing when you came in, and a song which very sober, good people sing.
Stock. Do they? Then I will be bold to say that singing such songs is no part of their goodness. I heard indeed but two lines of it, but they were so heathenish that I desire to hear no more.