Litchfield enquirer., 1859-09-08
BAD COMPANY.
A SKETCH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

by the company he keeps," and saying more true never was uttered. This means that the person is judged by such company, and such Judgment must have a powerful weight against the character and interests of any person. A simple life picture-one drawn from actual observation-will illustrate my meaning.
 In small country village lived wealthy machinest named Clark. By industry and perseverance, he had collected handsome property, but he still carried on his business the same as before-save that he did not work at the bench, having as much other bu- 1 siness as he could attend to. Among his workmen was 8 youth named Nathan Wilder Nathan was almost twenty-one years of age, and had been in Mir. Clarke's employ nearly seven years, having been bound to him as an apprentice He was young man of more than ordinary intelligence, and was respected and loved by all who knew him. His direct qualities were all good and his personal ap pearance was not only manly, but eminenty handsome.
 1 Yet Nathan had one fault. He had con- tracted a habit of associating with some of the reckless, unprincipled youths of the town He loved to go away in the evening and join l "AVA S1SuA NV oOiuO osOlC UT udil. duu JUL WItu them in laugh, story and jest and his social nature was of that ardent impulsive kind which leads one to join in just such sports as may chance to be started. Such youth would never pro- ject bad plan, but should his companions do so, he would be almost sure to join them. Some of these youths were low and degraded in character but yet managed to hold on to certain degree of responsibility, through the influence of respectable connections- l Young Wilder knew that they were "jolly good fellows" because he had heard others say it, and he looked at nothing beyond ths He felt sure that nothing could induce him to do an evil deed, and with this self assurance he was satisfied.
 "Where now 2" said Mr. Clark as Nathan was preparing to go out one evening. The young man lived with his master, and had been member of the family during the whole term, thus far of his apprenticeship
 70, just going out to spend the evening with few friends" replied Nathan, with a slight smile.
 Anything particular going on?" pursued Mr. Clark.
 "Why, believe some of the boys think of going over to the village" answered the youth, with some hesitation.
 "What for ?"
 Well-there is sort of party over there tonight"
 "Where 2"'
 At Billy Mac Wayne's."
 :" And did you think of going with them ?"
 "Why," answered Nathan, looking down upon the floor. II thought if t1e rest went I should go. didn't suppose you'd forbid it.'
 "No, Nathan l should not forbid it, but should hope you would not go?"
 But why A lot of friends are going, and they are only going for little sport"
 1" But do you know what kind of sport they will have before they get back. Now mark me Nathan, do not wish to deprive you of any real pleasure, but do wish to keep you from danger. You know the character of those who are going, and you know that they will be very sure to commit some evil deeds before they get back 1 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 Hamptons and Lumbys. You know 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 much ear nestness. never take part in their do- ings." ....
 :" You only go to see the sport, eh ?" en- quired MT. Clark, with significant smile.
 "Why-yes-I s'pose so."
 "So thought. And now I want you to understand this thing A man 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 they may be industrious and frugal And you kuow, too that the boys in our viii lage go over there to have their scrapes, be- cause 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, be- sides several other tricks of the same stamp. Perhaps you know of this" Nathan Wilder hung down Lis head and blushed, and faint "yes sir," escaped from bis lips.
 "You were there, weren't you ?" pursued Mir. Clark
 "Yes sir, I was but had nothing to do | with that-not thing"
 "But you stood by and laughed to see it done ?"
 "I couldn't help laughing, sir"
 Il 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 l mean just what say. These wicked rakes ask for no other pleasure but to cause poor people pain, and make their companions laugh. Anything at which you would laugh they would. Now, cannot conceive of a meaner or more niggardly act than that. Had they come and torn down my fence, it would not have been half so criminal, morally speaking. for Eastman is poor, and must feel such loss very much."
 knew it was mean trick, and I would { not join them in il" said Nathan.