Farmer Brown loaded his shotgun and slipped out along the fence to make it warm for the crows that were pulling up his young corn.
Now Barney, the family parrot, had also discovered the crows over in the cornfield, and being a very sociable bird, he flew over and joined them. Farmer Brown saw the crows, but he did not see Barney.
Bang! Bang! Bang! went the gun. Farmer Brown jumped over the fence to see the execution done. There lay three dead crows, and there lay Barney, his pet, his feathers all ruffled and his leg broken!
Gently he carried poor Barney home, and the children immediately asked, “Oh, Daddy! What did it? Who hurt our Barney?”
“Bad company! Bad company!” answered Barney in solemn voice.
“Ah, that was it,” said Mr. Brown. “Barney was with those crows when I fired, and got shot along with them. Remember Barney’s fate, children. Beware of bad company, for the old proverb is true; ‘Birds of a feather flock together.’ "
It is never safe for us to do a thing just because a lot of others are doing it. The Word of God tells us, “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil.” Exodus 23:22Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: (Exodus 23:2). If we are not sure of a thing, how much better it is to ask Father or Mother, or go to the Lord about it. This will save us from many a wrong step and all the sorrow that comes with it.
ML-10/15/1978