The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-01-17

pSCtdDiS couHSCtlOuS. OunS W llde
knew that they wsro Jolly good fel
lows, because he had heard others say
SO, and looked at nothing beyond this
He felt sure that nothing could induce
him to do an evil deed, and with thi.
self assurance he was satisfied.
"Where now ?" asked Mr.. Clark, a,
Nathan was preparing to 60 out one
evening. The young man lived will
his master, and had been member O
the family the whole term, thus far o
bis apprenticeship.
90, just going out to spend the eve
ming with few friends, replied Nathan
with slight smile. Anything partic
ular going on p pursued Mr.. Clark.
Why some of the boys think of going
over to the village" answered the you'll
with some hesitation.
'For what ?
'Well-there is a sort Of party ovsl
there tonight
'Whersp
AT Billy Mac Wayns's.'
And did you think of going with
them =
Why answered Nathan, lookin,
down upon the floor, 8 thought if til,
rest went l should 20. l did not sup
pose you would forbid it,
mo, Nathan l should not forbid it
but I should not give you my consent
fer I should hope that you would no
co.
But wby'' A lot Of my friends arr
going and they are only going for lit
tie SPORT
But do you know what kind Of spor
they will have before they get back
Now mark me Nathan. l dc not wis
to deprive eyou of any real pleasure, bu
do wish to keep you from danger
You know the character of those VIII
are going and you know that they vii
be very sure to commit some evil Iced.
before they get back. I heard some Of
the boys in the backsmith's department
talking about it this afternoon. The
Peterkin boys will be there and so will
the Hampton's and Lumbys. Yoy
know that they will get rum at Mac
Wayne's and that they will disturb the
peace
But should not engage in any such
thing as that, said Nathan, with mucl
earnestness. l never take part in their
doings.
You only 60 to see the sport, ha p
queried Clark, with a significant smile.
'Wby--yes-Is'pose so.'
so thought. And now want 20,
to understand this thing: A man i.
known by the company he keeps There
is no mistake about this. Now 20,
kaow that most of the people over il
the back village are poor, though they
may be industrious and frugal. Anc
you know too that the boys in cur vii
lage 90 over there to have their scrapes
because of the poverty and ignorance o
the people there. Hence the very start
ing point is not only wrong, but low and
cruel. Only last week, poor Johny
Eastman's fence was torn down, and
his barn doors carried of, besides sevc-
raj other tricks Of the same stamp. Per-
haps you know of this"
Nathan Wilder hung down his head
blushcd, and faint "yes sir" escaped
from his lips.
You were there wern't you :" pur
sued Mr.. Clark.
Yes, sir, was; but I had nothing
to do with that-not a thing
But you stood and laughed to see i
done p
Il could not belp laughing, sir
/ am sorry, Nathan, that you shoulc
have thus helped the evil disposed one
in their work. You need not look 8,
wonderingly at NE for mean just wha
l cay. These wicked rakss ask for n,
other pleasure but to cause poor peopl,
pain, and make their companions laugh
Anything at which ysu would laugi
they would do. Now, l cannot copceiv,
Of meansr or more niggardly act thar
that. Had they csme aud torn dowr
my fence, it would not have been hal