_Chauncy_ from Massachusetts. Another boy with a temper! As soon as I get time, I am going to count the number of boys in the P. S. who have already taken that pledge. Then I shall know the number who are sure to be better men than they would have been without that resolve. _Mary_ from Nebraska. I wish you had given me the name of the fault, my dear Blossom. I could so much better understand what your temptations are, and perhaps be able to help you. Still, you are welcome to all the privileges of the P. S. Will you let us hear how you succeed? _Oscar_ from Pennsylvania. That is right, my boy. "By-words," beside being senseless things, are very apt as you say, to lead one at last into using profane by-words. I heard an old man who was trying hard to break himself of that dreadful habit, say that he began by constantly using the by-word, "My goodness!" until the time came when it did not seem to be strong enough to express his feelings, and he took a worse form of the same sin. _Minnie_ from Pennsylvania. Another "dreamer." "I dreamed I was a great merchant," said a boy to his father, one morning. "Well, you will never be one," said his father, "for you will spend your time sitting and dreaming how nice it would be if you were somebody, instead of setting to work with a will, and being somebody." This habit of talking about others is one very easily formed. If we would always say good and sweet things of them, I suppose it would do no harm. Did you ever hear of the dear old lady who was in the habit of always saying something good about every one who was mentioned in her hearing? One day, a daughter said of her, "I believe mother would find something good to say about Satan himself, if we should try it." So they agreed to try the experiment, and when their mother entered the room they were talking about how he tempted people constantly to do wrong. "Yes," said the dear mother, "I have often thought we might learn a lesson from his perseverance. He doesn't waste any time!" As to wearing the badge, you must be your own judge of when. Some of the Pansies only wear them at their weekly meetings; others wear them when they think there is a reason that they will be specially tempted to break the pledge. Others wear them all the time, and when they are soiled, send ten cents to have them renewed. _Mary_ from Kentucky. How sorry I am for your disappointment! I do not know how it happened. We always attend to the badges as soon as the letters come. But about answers to letters, sometimes the poor little Blossoms have to wait until I am afraid they will almost wilt in their impatience! You see there are so many thousands of them, that, try as hard as I can, it is impossible to keep "caught up." We must each take a pledge of patience, and try to live up to it.