The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-08-23
Ttc Californian.
ron THE. BOYS AND GIRLS.
from the New York Observer.

From the New York Observer
About thirty five years ago, was teacher
in one Of the large villages in the West
While thus engs.ed, two boys. whom shall
call Nathan and John. came TO school from
the same nri.h1orhood. They were then a.
tou, a dozen wears old. and there was not
much difference in their capacity for i'm
prov.m-nt. Both were fair scholars, and
generally behaved with good degree Of pro-
priety in school, and both might have been
Respectable and useful members of society.
Nor did think that when they should be-
come men, there would be much difference
in their standing and usefulness. After hey
TO another part Of the village, where it Was
not convenient tOr them to attend upon my
instruction. Now let us, for the present.
pas over the history of these boys, twenty
years from the time they left my school, and
see WUtTt We sHhii lnu
We'll, within five DAYS Of the same time
Nathan was Orlaincd a minister Of the Cos
pei, over large Presbyterian church, and
John was banged. No doubt you would like
10 learn the causes whirh led to such widely
different results in their history Nathan
was obctlient TO his mother. (shc was wild
OWL was regularly found in the Sabbath
school anil the sanctuary OIL the Sabbath.
nor did he absent himself from home at night
without her prrnli>>ion, and then was home
at an early hour. John broke away from pa
rental restraint, was seldom seen in the
sanctuary or 'h. Sabbath school. but roamed
abroad in the fields n. orchards, or WHEREBY
or inclination or wicked associates led him.
H. Of course fell into bad company. ] said
Of course. for good bows are not ordinarily
found abro.: on the Sabbath. nor at unsea.
sonable hours at night. lie learned to play
AZ cards whenle should have been at church.
or in the Sabbath school. if not at home with
his parents, and in few wears became a
gambler and "b,mitg." file failed, how.
ever, TO get money as fast as he wanted it BY
gambling SO he. with two other young men
Of like character. killed a man to obtain hi,
money. The murder was committed in a
dark night and no eye but Gods saw them
and they no doubt thought that they should
escape punishment. But very remarkable
train of events soon led to their detection
They were tried found guilty, and all three
were executed together
And now, ;,.y young friends, allow me to
say to you. that John. when he was in the
same school with Nathan, had no idea but
when he should become man, he would be
as respectable and happy as his associate
And so he III, ght have been, had he avoided
the company of bad boys, and properly Oh
served the Sabbath And when he began 10
play at cards, he was not aware to what ex
tent his course was tending; and only played
for small SUNS at first But the first step in
a wrong course once taken, there is no stop
ping place; and the only safe way is. TO avoi'!
the society Of bad bows, and not take the first
step in course OF sin, and constantly to
keep in mind, that however you may succeed
in hiding your actions from men, God sees
all ven DO. and seldom allows sin to 90 un
punished even IT, this world.