"Oh Mamma, Fred. Skyblink has had a big wart come on his nose this week, and another on each thumb. They say it is because he has made so much fun of John Thompson's warts. He was always laughing at John about them. But I don't see how that could make them come on him. Do you, mamma?"
"It does not seem at all strange to me, my child. You know how Ella Jackson stutters; and we all know, as she confesses, it was caused by her mocking James Hinchman. Your mother will be very glad, Jessie dear, if, while you are young, you learn the lesson which these facts teach us. Whatever you think of very much as a reality is likely sooner or later to show itself in the body in some way; and sometimes it may do it speedily, when the thought is bad, in some deformity or proclivity, some bad habit or some ugly eruption, like warts or something worse; and if the thought is good, it will improve the general appearance and effect. I have known people begin to have fits by seeing them and thinking so much about them, and the good Mr. Prayon was led into the ministry in the same way. I had several warts on my hands when I was a girl, and I said to myself one day, "They will go away and then thought no more about them for a while, and next I knew, they were gone. Think little of evil and error and sin, if you would have them go away, or not come to you; and think earnestly on the Good, that it may abide always with you, and rule and bless you."
