JUST lately I read the following story, that I shall relate to my little friends in the hope that it may be of use to them. A boy, whose name was Carl, had a couple of play-fellows whose influence was not very good for him. His father had often warned him about the boys, but Carl thought their company so agreeable, that he could not be kept away from them. Then his father thought he would give his little son an object-lesson that he would not easily forget.
One day he sent him, to the garden, telling him, to pick three of the finest apples he could find, and to bring them to him. Carl liked to do this, and hoped to be given one. He soon returned with three beauties. In a cupboard there lay a rotten apple. The father said,
“Put them with that rotten apple.”
“But papa!” exclaimed Carl, “what a pity to do that, the rotten apple will spoil the good ones.”
“Do as I say,” his father answered.
Carl obeyed, but, as you can imagine, against his will. A few days later, he went to the cupboard for something, and found that, just as he feared, the three beautiful apples were quite spoiled.
“Look, papa! Just as I said; all the apples are spoiled.”
“Yes,” said the father, “and that is just what happens to a boy, or girl, who keeps bad company.”
“Evil communications corrupt good manners,” says the apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 15:3333Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33). Think of that, dear young friends! Do not go with boys or girls who do not fear the Lord, they will surely draw you away from Him, and tempt you to serve the world and sin.
ML 06/18/1922