Your ShelfYour Projects

BAD COMPANY

8%

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 16, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 36.

Read the full edition

BAD COMPANY.

A young lady of sixteen, who had been piously brought up, was invited to a party at which certain persons of undisguised infidel sentiments were expected to be present. Her father objected to her going.
"I know, papa," she said, "that they speak against the Bible and against Jesus; but you can be quite sure they can do me no harm. I can't help that; but I shall not allow them to affect me in the least."
"My child," said her father, inventing an excuse for the sudden request, "my work can't be interrupted; I have need of a coal; will you be kind enough to fetch me one?"
"Do you want a live coal, papa?"
"No—one that is dead—burned out."
The coal was brought. The young lady had brought it in her hand.
"Didn't it burn you, my child?" asked her father.
"Why, no, papa—how could it? It's dead."
"Of course it couldn't; but look at your hand, Florence."
"O papa, how black my fingers are! I must go and wash them."
"Wait a moment, Flossie; here is a little lesson for you while you are washing them. It is this; companionship with the wicked and worldly may not necessarily burn you and destroy you, but it will certainly soil you. Remember all your lifetime what the apostle says, Evil communications corrupt good manners."—Selected.