CHAPTER VIII._Charles Duran Or, The Career of a Bad Boy By the author of "The Waldos"

CONCLUSION.

The way of transgressors is hard. Early did Charles Duran indulge in

habits of disobedience,--early was he forgetful of God,--early did he

run into the paths of vice and intemperance, and early did he go down to

his grave.

Disobedience to parents is a fearful sin! Children think they know what

is best for themselves. Parental restraint sometimes seems irksome to

them; but God has wisely ordained that in our youth we should be under

the instruction and control of our parents. Children, instead of feeling

that parental control is oppressive to them, should learn to be

thankful for it. It is enough for well-instructed and well-disposed

children, generally, to know what the wishes of their parents are. Much

of their happiness is derived from compliance with those wishes. The

approbation of their parents will afford such children far more pleasure

than all their forbidden indulgences.

The school history of Charles Duran will not fail, I trust, to make a

suitable impression upon the minds of my youthful readers. Scholars

sometimes think that it is not a great offense for them to violate the

rules of their school, neglect their books, or be unkind even to some of

their school-associates. So this boy thought. The result of his course

is before us. All such children should know that by such a course of

conduct they are laying the foundation for a bad character. They may,

for awhile, escape punishment; they may not be expelled from school;

they may possibly retain their places in their class; but they are

acquiring those habits which, if not corrected, will bring ruin upon

them by and by.

This boy's sporting habits ought not to be lightly passed over. He was

exceedingly fond of a gun. The indulgence of this passion led him into

habits of idleness and cruelty. Boys should rarely, if ever, be allowed

the use of fire-arms: they are always dangerous. The habits and

associations to which their use leads are generally objectionable. Boys

that are constantly around the brooks after little fishes, and in the

woods in pursuit of little birds, had better be at their books. We

always fear that idle boys will make idle men.

We see from the history of Charles Duran the importance of early

religious training. Had his parents pursued a different course with him,

he might have grown up to be a blessing to them, and a useful member of

society: "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old

he will not depart from it." Prov. xxii, 6.

When, O when will parents lay this to heart! How many fathers and

mothers have been brought down to the grave with sorrow, by neglecting

this important duty!

The history of Charles Duran is a warning to all boys who are inclined

to indulge in Sabbath-breaking; to form bad associations; to tipple; or

to visit places of improper amusement. See his dreadful end! Mark that

fatal night! Remember that he had been preparing for that season of riot

and debauch by previous indulgence. He came not to his wretched

condition all at once. He was preparing for it in his early

disobedience,--in his neglect of instruction,--in his unkindness to his

school-mates,--in delighting to injure those who were smaller and weaker

than himself,--in his idle sporting habits,--in the indulgence of his

bad temper,--in ministering to his perverse will,--in his Sunday

rambling,--in associating with the vile,--in his tippling habits,--and,

finally, in throwing off all parental regard and restraint. He had now

come to the verge of the whirlpool of destruction, and, in a frenzied

moment, he threw himself into the awful vortex! _Beware of the first

sin!_ "Enter not into the paths of the wicked, and go not in the way of

evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away." Prov.

iv, 14, 15.

THE END.