Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-05-29

dissipation alone. Each one Is accompanied.
NO man goes to ruin alone. He always takes
some one else with him. "May It please the
court. said a convicted criminal when asked
II he had anything to say before sentence Of
death was passed upon him--"may 1t please
the court, bad company has been my ruin.
received the blessing of good parents and In
return promised to avoid all evil associa-
lions. Had kept my promise should have
Teen saved this shame and been free from
the load OF guilt that hangs around me like
a vulture; threatening to drag me to justice
Tor crimes yet unrevealed. l who once
moved In the first circles Of society and have
been the guest Of distinguished public men
am lost, and all through bad company"
This is but one Of the thousand proofs
that evil associations blast and destroy. It
is the invarable rule. There Is q we'll man
In the wards of @ hospital where there are a
hundred people sick with ship fever, and he
will not be so apt to take the disease as
good man would be apt to be smittep with
moral distemper II shut up with Ubiquitous
companions In olden times prisoners were
herded together in the same cell, but each
one learned the vices Of all the culprits, so
that instead Of being reformed by incarcera-
ton the day OF liberation turned them out
upon society beasts. not men.
We may, in our places of business, be COM
PEELED to talk to and mingle with bad men,
but he who deliberately chooses to associate
himself with vicious people is engaged In
carrying on a courtship with Delilah
whose shears will clip off all the locks OF his
strength, and he will be tripped into perdi-
ton. Sin is catching, Is infectious, Is cpl
demic. will let you look over the millions
of people now inhabting the earth, and
challenge you to show mo q good man who
after one year has made choice and consorted
with the wicked. A thousand dollars re-
ward for one such instance. care not how
strong your character may be. Go with
the corrupt and you will become corrupt.
Clan with burglars, AMI you will be-
come a burglar. Go among the unclean,
and you will become uncean. Many
young man has been destroyed by not
appreciating this. He wakes up some
morning in the great city and knows no
one except the persons into whose employ
he has entered. AS he goes into the store all
the clerks mark him, measure him and dis
cuss him, The upright young men OF the
store wish him well. but perhaps wait for
formal Introduction. and even then have
some delicacy about inviting him into their
associations But the bad young men Of the
store at the first opportunity approach and
offer their services. They patronize him.
They profess to know all about the town.
They will take him anywhere he wishes TO
go-ifhe will pay the expenses. For if good
young man and bad young man go to
some place whore they ought not, the good
young man has invariably to pay the
charges At the moment the ticket is paid
for, or the champagne settled for, the bad
young man feels around in his pockets and
says, ~ have forgotten my pocketbook."
In forty-eight hours after the young man
has entered the store the bad fellows OF the
establishment slap him on the shoulder IA
miliarly, and, at his stupidity In taking GER
tain illusions, say, "My young friend, you
will have to be broken In" and they imme-
diately proceed to break him in. Young man,
in the name Of God warn you to beware
how you let had man talk Familiarity with
you. If such one slap you on the shoulder
Familiarity, turn round and give him a with
ering look until the wretch crouches in your
presence. There is no monstrosity OF wick
ednesS that can stand unabashed under the
glance Of purity and honor. God keeps the
lightnings Of heaven In His own scabbard,
and no human arm can WELD them, but God
gives to every young man lightning that he
may use, and that is the lightning of an hon.
est eye. Those who have been close observ-
ers of city life will not wonder why I give
warning to young men and say, "Beware of
evil companions"
warn you to shun the skeptic--the young
man who puts his fingers In his vest and
laughs at your old fashioned religion, and
turns over to some mystery Of the Bible, and
says, "Explain chat. my pious friend, ex-
plain that" And who saysa "Nobody
shall scare me; I am not AFRAID Of the
future. l used to believe in huoh things,
and so did my father and mother, but have
got over It," Yes, he has got over IL, and il
you sit in his company q little longer you will
get over 1t too. Without presenting one
argument against the Christian religion,
such men WILL by their jeers and SCOTS and
caricatures, destroy your respect for that re-
l1gion which was the strength OF your father
In his declining years and the pillow Of your
old mother when she lay a-dying.
Alas, q time will come when this buster
ing young jnndel will havo 10 die, and then
his diamond ring will flash no spendor in the
eyes of Death as he stands over the couch
waiting for his soul! Those beautiful locks
will be uncombed upon the pillow, and tho
dying man will say, ~ cannot diet cannot
die" Death, standing ready beside the
couch, says, 'You must die You have
only half a minute to live. Let me have it
right away our soul!'' mo" says the
young infdel, "here are my gold rings and
these pictures. Take them ALL" NO."
says Death. "What do l care for pictures.
Your soulI' "Stand back!" says the dying
inadel. ~ will not stand back" says
Death, "for you have only ten seconds now
to live. l want your SOUL" The dying man
says: Don't breathe that cold air into my
face. You crowd me too hard. tits getting
Death. "You said there was no Cod"
"Pray for me-" exclaims the expiring infldel.
"Too late to pray" says Death. "But three
more seconds to 1--we, and | will count them
off--one, two, three!' He has gone! Where2
Where? Garry him out and bury him beside
his father and mother, who died while hold
ing fast the Christian religion. They died
singing, but the young 1nfldcl only said'
Don't breathe that cold air into my face.
You crowd me too hard. 1t Is getting dark
In the ROOM"
Again, 1 urge you to shun the companion
ship of idlers. There are men hanging
around every store and Office and shop who
have nothing to do, or act as if they had not.
They are apt to come in when the firm are
away and wish to engage you in CONVERSE
ton while you are engaged in your regular
employment. Politely suggest to such per-
sons that you have no time TO give them
during business hours. Nothing would
please them so we'll as to have you renounce
your occupation and associate with them.
Much of the time they lounge around the
doors of engine houses, or after the dining
hour stand upon the steps of fashionable
hotel or an elegant restaurant, wishing to
give you the idea that that is the place where
they dine. But they do not dine there.
They are sinking down lower and lower day
by day. Neither by day nor by night have
anything to do with idlers.
Before you admit q man into your ac-
ouaintance ask him politely, "What do you
do for living?" If he says, "Nothing; am
a gentleman, look out for him. He may
have a very soft hand and very faultless ap-