Infinite_ Purity itself!

Since the first edition of this work was published, I have
received several letters of thanks for having ventured upon
this long neglected, but important subject. Teachers, especially,
have acknowledged their obligations, both in person and by
correspondence. One teacher, in particular, a man of considerable
experience, writes as follows:--

'The last chapter of the book, is by no means, in my view, the
least important. I regret to say that many _religious_ young
men, through ignorance, are attached to the last mentioned vice.
I could wish that what you have written could be carefully read
by every _young_ man, at least, in our land. Alas, dear sir,
how little do mortals know, when they do not understand their
physical structure!'

AN ADDITIONAL CHAPTER.

SECTION I. _Choice of Friends._

The importance, to a young man, of a few worthy female friends, has
been mentioned in Chapter V. But to him who aspires at the highest
possible degree of improvement or usefulness, a select number of
confidential friends of his own sex is scarcely less valuable.

Great caution is however necessary in making the selection. "A man is
known by the company he keeps," has long since passed into a proverb;
so well does it accord with universal experience. And yet many a young
man neglects or despises this maxim, till his reputation is absolutely
and irretrievably lost.

Lucius was a remarkable instance of this kind. Extremely diffident, he
was introduced to a neighborhood where every individual but one was an
entire stranger to him; and this person was one whose character was
despised. But what is life without associates? Few are wholly destitute
of sympathy, even brute animals. Lucius began to be found in the
company of the young man I have mentioned; and this too in spite of the
faithful and earnest remonstrances of his friends, who foresaw the
consequences. But, like too many inexperienced young men, conscious of
his own purity of intention, he thought there could surely be no harm
in occasional walks and conversations with even a bad man; and who
knows, he sometimes used to say, but I may do him good? At any rate, as
he was the only person with whom he could hold free conversation on
"things that were past," he determined occasionally to associate with
him.

But as it is with many a young lady who has set out with the