f, he gradually became familiar with the companions
thus forced upon him, and, in a day or two, began to engage with
them in their various sports, to while away the weary hours.
Sometimes they sat and told stories, to amuse one another; and thus
Rodney heard tales of wickedness and depredation and cunning, that
almost led him to doubt whether there was any honesty among men.
They talked of celebrated thieves and robbers, burglars and
pirates, as if they were the models by which they meant to mould
their own lives; and, instead of detesting their crimes, Rodney
began to admire the skill and success with which they were
perpetrated. The excitement and freedom, and wild, frenzied
enjoyment of such a life, as depicted by the young knaves, began to
fascinate and charm his mind. Something seemed to whisper in his
ear, "As you are now disgraced, without any fault of your own, why
not carry it out, and make the most of it? They have put you into
jail, this time, for nothing; if they ever do it again, let them
have some reason for it." Who knows what might have been the result
of such temptations and influences, had these associations been
long continued, and not counteracted by the interposition of God?

But then the instructions of childhood, the lessons of home and
of the Sabbath-school, were brought back to his memory, and he
said to himself, "What, be a thief! Make myself despised and
hated by all good people! Live a life of wickedness and
dread,--perhaps die in the penitentiary, and then, in all
probability, lose my soul, and be cast into hell! No, never! I
shall never dare to steal, or to break into houses; and as for
killing anybody for money, I shudder even at the thought!"

So did the bad and the good struggle together in the heart of
the poor boy. How many there are who, at the first, feel and
think about crime as he did, but who, in the end, become
familiar with vice, lose their sense of fear and shame and
guilt, become bold and reckless in sin, having their consciences
seared as with a hot iron, and violating all laws, human and
divine, without compunction, and without a thought save that of
impunity and success!

All the elements of a life of crime were in the heart of this
wayward boy; and had it not been for the instructions of his
childhood, which counteracted these evil influences, and the
providence and grace of God, which restrained him, he would have
become a miserable outcast from society, leading a wr