sometimes even upon the entire school.

The text teaches us that we should avoid such foolish boys and foolish
girls; boys and girls who do not obey God or revere the Bible, who do
not listen to their consciences, nor do that which is right. Such should
be avoided at all times, and in choosing our companions, we should
always prefer those who will have an influence for good upon us
socially, intellectually and morally.

The influence of bad companions will tend to destroy all our best
interests physically, by leading to every kind of vice and evil; destroy
us financially, by causing us to be inattentive to our work, causing us
to prefer idleness and pleasure to labor and usefulness; destroy us
morally, by making light of the teachings of the Bible, the importance
of the Sunday-school and of the Church, the authority of father and
mother and the wisdom of what they teach and require of us.

But in addition to all this, we should remember that those who are our
companions upon earth, will be our companions in the world to come. If
we go with the wicked and the profane here, we shall dwell with them
forever in the world to come. If we desire to go to heaven and to be
forever with those who are good and righteous, pure and holy; if we
desire to be happy for ever and ever in the world to come, we must
choose as our companions here, those who are living not for this present
fleeting life, but who are living for the glory of God and who are
trusting sincerely in Jesus Christ for everlasting salvation.

May God help us all to be wise and to walk with the wise, and not to be
foolish and choose fools as our companions, both for time and eternity.

QUESTIONS.--Into what two classes has God divided
people? What does the Bible tell us will happen to
a companion of fools?--of wise men? Whom do the
charred sticks represent? Who are like the white
sticks? If the sticks are rubbed together, what is
the result? What happens to good boys who keep bad
company? Do the good boys become bad immediately?
What do bad companions do to one's character? Can
a boy wash "burnt cork" from his face? Can he wash
the stains from his character? What else besides a
bad character is given? Will a few drops of water
change the color of a bottle of ink? Will a few
drops of ink change the color of a glass of water?