Keeping good company
Man is a social being. He wants to live in the company of his companions, friends and relatives. It is almost impossible for him to live alone. As soon as a baby grows up into a child, it looks for companions. Boys and girls wish to live among friends of their age. Adults have a desire to have their companions about their own age. Even in old age this desire of living in a company does not end.
Why is it so? Can you tell/ this world is full of dangers and difficulties at every step. No one can face them without the help of others. Only friends and relatives can help one another in time of difficulty. Moreover, we depend on one another at every step. Even basic needs of life-food clothing and shelter etc. cannot be had without the help of others. We depend on farmers for good and on weavers for cloth. These facts have made man a social being by nature.
When it is necessary for man to have a company, he must choose his company with care. A man, what he is now, is because of his company. His qualities, speech thoughts and actions, owe a lot to his company. A child learns to speak in the company of the members of its family. In boyhood, the influence of one’s company is very, very great. Even the character of a person takes shape according to his her companions.
If the persons, with whom we mix, happen to be bad, we are sure to become evil persons. On the other hand, if our companions are honest and sincere, we shall become good men. Let us read the story of a boy who had to suffer because of is bad company.
Once there lived a man in a small town. He was very honest and sincere. People respected him for his nobility. He had an only son about seven years of age. As ill luck would have it, the man died in his youth. His widow brought her son up with loving care. She often advised him to be good and sincere like his father.
The boy was now a student of class V. he started mixing with bad children who were in the habit of stealing things, speaking foul words and gambling. So, he went on getting bad habits from his companions. Years rolled by and the boy grew up to be a spoilt lad.
The advice of his mother had no effect on him. Though he was the son f an honest man, yet his company had spoilt him. He was given to gambling, smoking, lying, drinking and stealing.
Some years later, the boy grew up to be a Youngman of twenty-five. He took to thieving and robbing. Soon he came to be a notorious dacoit. He was responsible for several murders. The police wad after him. Not only this, he carried the law. At last he was arrested and tried in court. The judge sentenced him to imprisonment for life.
Now the young man thought hard over what had happened. After a cool thinking, he came to feel that his company had made him what he was. Had he heeded the advice of his mother, he would have become a respectable citizen. He cursed himself again and again for making such a blunder. But what could be done? It was too late now?
What lesson do we learn from this story? It shows that the influence of company is very deep. A man is what his company makes him. A person who mixes with evil persons must become bad. But a person with noble friends is sure to become good citizens. So, we must be very careful in choosing out companions.
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