Character in Little Britches

At the encouragement of several friends I have begun reading Ralph Moody's Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers which was first published in 1950.

 

We are already enjoying many humorous parts. Tonight there was also a good lesson.  The main character, an eight year old boy, lied to his mother in order to cover himself and to get to try something with their horse.  Things went bad and in the end his lie was exposed.  His father's comments are well stated:

 

"Son, there is no question but what the thing you have done today deserves severe punishment.  You might have killed yourself or the horse, but much worse than that, you have injured your own character.  A man's character is like his house.  If he tears boards off his house and burns them to keep himself warm and comfortable, his house soon becomes a ruin.  If he tells lies to be able to do the things he shouldn't do but wants to, his character will soon become a ruin.  A man with a ruined character is a shame on the face of the earth." (41)