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78 Till: l:,trHI:-ll;-TIrI}; 01" LIF2.
perSoll's fl'putatioll, Tell them wheN tho
clerk or apprcntice ~pends his evenings, and
,....
ith whom hc takes hi", '\"alk~, anu it is
enough. Nothing would F('cm t;tranger to
them thau to look fOf n. ~ob('rl con~idemte,
tfustworthy young man, in the midst of the
idlc, the profane, and the lil'el1tioll~. Never
uo they expect to find onc that 1:::1
tem}lel'ate,
inuustrious nnJ correct! nmong n. Hois..",ui~i.
pated and drunkcn crcw, So eert:tin i~ it,
that ever~y im]iviuual will be whnt 11is eoUlpanioll";
arc, ill character, hahit::::,and way of
life-,that in llille c..'1.'iesout of ten: no further
khtimony is rcquired.
'rhe firmest reput..'l.tion is a delicate plant,
which will not bear the touch of violence: or
tho breath ofpollntion. 'rhough it ad,Tunce b,y
s,]owand ~lmost impcrceptiulc uegrees, it often,
like the Prophcf::4 gourd, withers in a night.
It is po:::5iblefor you t.o lo~e in an hour: wItnt
it cot;L.;;years of care and cil'cum!;pection to
gain, ...:\.little want of consiueration, tl little
fOJ'getfulne::.sof what is due to yourselves l Do
little yiehlillg to the blandishments of viee, may
inflict an mjur)" never to be repaired. But