| The Every Day of Life |
Chapter 20 |
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If anyone discovers that they are in the snare of evil companionship or friendship, whatever it costs them, they should tear themselves away from it. Better enter into pure, noble, and worthy life, with one hand or one foot, or with both hands and feet cut away, than to save these members and be dragged down to eternal death. Young people should beware of the beginnings of evil companionship. It is like the machinery in the mill, which, when it once seizes the outmost fringe of one’s garments, quickly winds in the whole garment and whirls the person’s body to swift and terrible death.
But a good and true character has also its influence. Good companionship has only blessings and benediction for a life. There have been mere chance meetings just for the moment, as when ships speak at sea, and pass each on its course, never to meet again, which yet have left blessings whose influence shall never perish. There was an old legend about the origin of the pearl. It was said that a star dropped out of the sky into the sea, and being folded in a shell, became a pearl.
“There was a star
Which out of the height of heaven fell,
And was lost, ah me!
The beautiful star fell into the sea,
And falling, was folded into a shell;
And the beautiful star became pearl
In the sea.”
So it is with the influence of good lives. Words, thoughts, songs, kindly deeds, the power of example, the inspiration of noble things, drop out of the heaven of pure friendship into the depths of the heart, and, falling, are folded there and become beautiful gems and holy adornments in the life.
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