Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-01-01

VIII nave before they get back Now mark
me, Nathan. do not wish to deprive YOU O,
any real pleasure, but do wish to keep YOU
from danger You know the character of those
who are going, and you know that thev viii be
very sure to commit some evil deeds before thev
get back heard some of the boys in the black
smiths department talking about it this after
noon. The Peterkin boys viii be there, and 80
will the Hamptons and Lambvs You know
they will get rum at MacWayne's and that they
will disturb the peace"
But | should not engage in any such thing
as that, said Nathan with great eanestness-
never take part in the4r doings"
You only go to the sport, eh p queried
Clark, with significant smile
Why-yes-I s'pose So"
$50 thought And now l want you to un-
derstand this thing: "A is known by the
company he keeps There is no mistake about
this. Now you know that most of the people
over in the back village are poor, though thev
may be industrious and frugal And you know,
too, that the boys in village go over there to
have their scrapes, because of the poverty and
ignorance of the people there. Hence the very
starting point is not only wrong, but low and
cruel Only last week, poor Johnny Eastman's
fence was torn down, and his barn doors carried
off, besides several other tricks of the same
sort. Perhaps you know of this"
Nathan Wilder hung down his head and blush
ed, and a faint ycs SIR, escaped from his lips
"You We're there, wern't you? pursued Mr.
Clark.
"Yes, sir, 1 was; but I had nothing to do
with that-not thing"
But you stood by and laughed to see it done?"
q couldn't help laughing sir"
q am sorry, Nathan, that you should have
thus helped the evil disposed ones in their work
You needn't look so wonderingly at me, for I
mean just what | say. These wicked rakes ask
tor no other pleasure but to cause poor people
pain, and make their companions laugh. Any
thing at which you would laugh they would do
Now, 1 cannot conceive of meaner or more
niggardly act than that. Had they come and
torn down my fence it would not have been
half criminal, morally speaking for Eastman
is poor, and must feel such loss very much"
:" know it was a mean trick, and l would not
join them in it." said Nathan.
But YOU stood by and saw them do it %
Yes, sir; because l didn't want to come
home alone"
% L understand it, Nathan and let me assure
you that the best way TO avoid coming home
alone is never to go in the company of any one
who may do that of which you would be ashamed.
company, just viii you be judged with
them. Now, am going to give you a bit of
information. Only yesterday gentleman asked
l., e 81. u
Wilder was Of course told him you We're
good youth, and asked him what he meant He
then informed me that you were with the party
who tore down Eastman's fence, and did other
things of equal shame and sin. He did not
know that you lived in my family, and he only
asked for information, as he had seen you often,
and supposed you to be fine young man. l
hope you will not 90 out this evening"
.'Of course l shall not, if you do not wish it"
q But do you wish to go2
The youth hesitatcd The fact was, be had
been anticipating the sport for two days, and he
could not Immediately give it up.
Cooper is going" he said, after some mo-
ments of thought.
' Joseph, do you mean?'
Yes, sir
:. I am sorry fer it, then, for Joseph Cooper I
know is n kind. generous, honest youth, and he
ought not thus to ruin his reputation. You look
surprised, but [ speak the truth No man, be
he ever 50 pure, can associate long with evil
companions without losing his standing among
respectable people Why, you are looked upon
by some as having had hand in the mischief
of which have spoken
But people who know me would know bet
ter uttered Nathan, quite confidently.
How should they know better? You seek
those evil companions, and are present at their
evil work. You know who pulled down East
mans fence of course 1 don't mean to ask
you who did it, but l say you know"
eyes, sir, l do"
And yet were you asked who did it, you
would not tell"
OF course not. would not expose COM
panion.'
SO I supposed. And now look at it: You
were in the company-one of the party; the
party did certain deeds and you must bear your
share of the blame But let this pass. You
know that those young with whom you
would associate are evil disposed: and you know,
they Will be up to some sort of mischief l
think ! have said enough to enable you to un-
derstand the rest. Now you may spend the
evening with Mabel, or you may so over to the
back village, just as you choose"
Nathan Wilder started as he heard these
words; but before he could make any reply, his
master was gone. But he was not long left
alone for in a moment more bright eyed, lovely
girl of some nineteen summers, came tripping
INTO the room. She was Mr.. Clark's only child
Long had the youth loved that fair girl, and he
knew that she loved him in return but he had
not yet had the courage to mention the subject
to his master, for he only an apprentice
now, though few short months would see him
free. But strange hope started to life in his
bosom now. Those last words OF the parent
and the peculiar tone IN which they were spoken
and the look which accompanied them, meant