p. 13 | Evil Company

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 9, 1862

Evil Company.

It is said that Sophrosius, a wise teacher of the people, did not allow his sons and daughters, even when they were grown up, to associate with persons whose lives were not moral and pure.

"Father," said the gentle Eulalia one day, when he refused to permit her to go, in company with her brother, to visit the frivolous Lucinda, "you must think that we are very weak and childish since you are afraid that it would be dangerous to us to visit Lucinda."

Without saying a word the father took a coal from the hearth, and handed it to his daughter. "It will not burn you, my child," he said, "only take it."

Eulalia took the coal and behold her tender white hand was black; and without thinking she touched her white dress, and it was blackened. "See," said

Eulalia, somewhat displeased as she looked at her hands and dress, "one can not be careful enough when handling coal."

"Yes, truly," said her father, "you see, my child, that the coal, even though it did not burn you has nevertheless blackened you. So is the company of immoral persons."-Sel.