What Blackens

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 7, 1907

THERE is an old story about a Greek maiden named Eulalia; she wanted to be friends with Lucinda, a very gay and worldly woman. One day she said to her father, Sophronius: “I would like to call upon Lucinda; may I go to-day?”

“I can not allow you to do that, my daughter,” replied Sophronius.

“But, father, you must think me exceedingly weak if you suppose I should be injured by going,” said Eulalia, crossly.

Her father stooped down and picked up a piece of dirty coal and held it out.

“Take that in your hand, my child; it will not hurt you.”

She did, and her fingers became smudged. Eulalia did not understand.

“Why,” she said, “did you give me this? It blackens.”

“Yes,” came the reply. “Coal, when it does not burn, blackens.”

Do you see the lesson of the old Greek? Bad company will blacken, even if it does not burn.—Selected.