JANUARY 14

Sometimes Don Bosco's charitable talks would not succeed. Then he would fall back on a medicine or expedient which he used to call "walks". When he saw that a rather accentuated rancor or dissension existed between two of the bigger boys and that it was going to be a difficult task to unite them, he would invite the first to come for a walk with him. This act of friendship would calm the heart of the boy and Don Bosco would allow him to recount the whole story of the wrongs which, he thought, had been committed against him. On another day he would invite the second for a fine walk and would let him say whatever he thought of the former. Naturally Don Bosco in the course of the conversation would affably try to drive away the prejudices of the one and the other, without however directly opposing them. After some days he would invite both to come with him for some recreation. In the beginning both would make strange grimaces but they did not dare to say "no" to Don Bosco. So, silent and uncertain as to what was going to happen they would follow him. Don Bosco did not keep them waiting long, for he would commence almost at once to reason with them and in the end make them come to some agreement Then he would cheer them up and make them laugh so that when they returned to the Oratory I they would be the best of friends again.

Let us recall some more of Don Bosco’s tricks:

Not content with the confidential maxims which he used to suggest, he was accustomed to write them on a piece of paper which he would place in such a place that the boys found them just at the opportune time. For example he would write: "Whatever you do, say and think, make sure that it is done to the advantage of your soul

-Suffer willingly for God who has suffered so much for you

-In fatigue and suffering never forget that there is a great reward prepared for us in heaven.

-It is my desire we should help one another to save one another s soul.

-He who is not obedient will be deprived of every virtue.

-He who goes with good boys will go to Paradise.

-At the hour of death you will be sorry to have lost so much time without any advantage to your soul.

-He who abuses the mercy of God to offend Him does not deserve mercy.

-If you love your soul all is lost.

-What has God done to you that you treat him so badly?

-Be prepared

-Whoever is not prepared to die well today runs the risk of dying badly.

-Guard your eyes and preserve them for contemplating one day the features of Mary in Paradise. 

He would also write counsels to hundreds of others, many of which have not come down to us because they were of too confidential a nature. On occasions he even used to write out a particular counsel for everyone in the house even when the number nearly reached a thousand.