p. 435 | A NEW VIEW

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 29, 1881

A NEW VIEW.

A GROUP of young men, students in —University, gathered one evening in the room of a "new fellow," had met there by agreement to try by persuasion, ridicule, or flattery to induce him to join in an expedition they had planned for the following night.

The young man was cordial and polite, joining merrily in their lively talk, but when at last the "ruling spirit" ventured upon the real object of their call, he became cold and dignified, and declined most decidedly to accede to it.

"Come, now, this is too thin," exclaimed Smith, his anger rising, and throwing off all disguise; "we shan't take no for an answer, unless you can give reasons why it would not be 'healthy.' Scruples, isn't it?" with a sneer.

"Yes," said Lawrence, frankly, "it is 'scruples and scruples,'" laughing.

"Well, then give us a few, can't you, old fellow? It's pa and ma first, I suppose!"

"Exactly, Smith, or perhaps I should say that was 'secondly.' 'Firstly' would be that calling myself by the name of Christ, I consider myself as bound to honor and obey my leader.

"Secondly," and the young man arose and stood very straight and tall before his fellow-students, "my parents!"

"Now, fellows, suppose I was in the employment of a merchant, would you consider it a fine, manly thing for me to conduct his business, as far as it was left in my hands, with a total disregard of his wishes and rules?

"Well, then, would it be 'smart' in me to open his money-drawer and help myself to its contents, expecting that he would kindly overlook my little imprudence, and continue me in his service?

"Well, tell me, please, how is it any better, any smarter, to abuse the confidence of our best friends, squander their money, and worse than all, bring shame and sorrow upon their gray hairs!

"It seems to me, fellows, that it must be an awfully mean, an utterly base thing, to first break your mother's heart, and then go around boasting, 'I'm not tied to my mammy's apron-strings.'"

"No, friend Smith, while I consent to receive my father's money in getting my education, I will at least try to be honest in using it.

"When I get through with that, and am able to earn my own salt and clothes, then if I wish to have a good time, by ruining my body and soul, I shall at least have the satisfaction of paying for it myself."

The young men all at once remembered that they had "an engagement," and abruptly left such unprofitable materia!.—Sel.