THE TWO PEDESTRIANS
BY CAROLYN WELLS
Once on a time there were two Men, one of whom was a Good Man and theother a Rogue.
The Good Man one day saw a Wretched Drunkard endeavoring to find his wayHome.
Being most kind-hearted, the Good Man assisted the Wretched Drunkard tohis feet and accompanied him along the Highway toward his Home.
The Good Man held fast the arm of the Wretched Drunkard, and the resultof this was that when the Wretched Drunkard lurched giddily the Good Manperforce lurched too.
Whereupon, as the Passing Populace saw the pair, they said: "Aha!Another good man gone wrong," and they Wisely Wagged their Heads.
Now the Bad Man of this tale, being withal of a shrewd and canny Nature,stood often on a street corner, and engaged in grave conversation withthe Magnates of the town.
To be sure, the Magnates shook him as soon as possible, but in no wisediscouraged he cheerfully sauntered up to another Magnate. Thus did hegain a Reputation of being a friend of the Great.
MORALS:
This Fable teaches us that A Man is known by the Company he Keeps, andthat We Must not Judge by Appearances.
The Wit and Humor of America, Volume IV. (of X.) Page 7