An overseer in a mill found a pin which cost the company nearly five hundred dollars. “Was it stolen?” asked an employe. “Was it a diamond pin?” “Oh, no,” answered the overseer, “it was just such a pin as we use without stint. You see, it happened this way. Calicoes, after they are printed, washed and dried, are smoothed by being pressed over heated rollers. By some mischance, a pin dropped so as to lie upon the principal roller, and became wedged in it, the head standing out a little from the surface. Over and over went the roller, and round and round went the cloth, winding at length on another roller, until the piece was measured off. Then another piece began to be dried and wound, and so on until a hundred pieces had been counted. These were not examined immediately, but removed from the machinery and laid aside. When at length they came to be inspected, it was found that there were holes in every piece throughout the web, and only three-quarters of a yard apart. The pieces averaged about forty yards, which at twelve and a half cents a yard amounted to about five hundred dollars. Of course the goods could not be classed as perfect, so they were sold as remnants at about half the price they would have brought had it not been for that hidden pin.”
Thus it is when a boy takes for his companion one whose language is not the most savory, who is inclined to be lazy and sceptical, that he does himself a moral injury which increases with the association. Evil seed is planted in his mind, which, as Seneca said, “is sure to spring up in future resurrection,” discounting his reputation and damaging his character beyond repair.
THE KIND OF COMPANY TO KEEP.
No boy can be too cautious with whom he associates, and
“Without good company, all dainties
Lose their true relish, and like painted grapes,
Are only seen, not tasted.”
Would you acquire a good reputation? Seek the companionship of good boys. Good begets good. “Flowers planted by the rose smell of the rose.” “Companionship with the wise never fails to have a most valuable influence on the formation of character, increasing resources, strengthening resolves, elevating aims, and enabling one to exercise greater dexterity and ability in his affairs, as well as more effective helpfulness to others.” Thus Allan Cunningham when learning the trade of a stone-mason in Nithsdale, walked all the way to Edinburgh that he might see the face of Sir Walter Scott as he passed along the street. Sir Joshua Reynolds, when a lad of only ten, thrust his hand through a crowd of people that he might touch the Pope—the greatest living person to his mind. Fox acknowledged very frequently his indebtedness to the example and conversation of Edmund Burke; Tyndall speaks of Faraday as a great energy to his life, and later wrote, “His works excite admiration, but contact with him warms and elevates the heart.” Carlyle said, “Hero-worship exists, has existed, and will forever exist, universally among mankind.” Haydn’s hero was Sir Joshua Reynolds; Rogers the poet had his hero in the person of Dr. Samuel Johnson; Hallam his in Tennyson; Tennyson’s was William Ewart Gladstone, and Henry Martyn’s was a big boy who defended him from others who picked on him, and who assisted him in his studies at Cambridge. Unknown to the world the great missionary acknowledged that this boy kept and defended him from evil associates and inspired his soul with the love of truth and the work for which he was called upon to sacrifice his life.
My boy, choose carefully your associates. “Seek at the first,” as Marshall Field wrote, “to cultivate the acquaintance of those only whose contact and influence will kindle high purposes, as I regard the building up of a sterling character as one of the fundamental principles of true success.” See to it that they are modest, studious, truthful, moral; shunning evil places, avoiding questionable amusements, without bad habits and in conduct exemplary. Choose “your superiors if possible, your equals at least, your inferiors never.” Associate with boys who will foster your piety and who will make you wiser and nobler. Lord Brooks so esteemed the friendship of Sir Philip Sydney that he chose for his epitaph: “Here lies Sir Philip Sydney’s friend.”
“Be careful in choosing companions;