A youth is sent from a distant state to share the benefits of the college at Battle Creek. He goes forth from his home with the blessing of his parents upon his head. He has listened daily to the earnest prayers offered at the family altar, and he is apparently well started in a life of noble resolve and purity. His convictions and purposes when he leaves home are right. In Battle Creek he will meet with associates of all classes. He becomes acquainted with some whose example is a blessing to all who come within the sphere of their influence. Again, he meets with those who are apparently kind and interesting, and whose intelligence charms him; but they have a low standard of morality and no religious faith. For a time he resists every inducement to yield to temptation; but as he observes that those who profess to be Christians seem to enjoy the company of this irreligious class, his purposes and high resolves begin to waver. He enjoys the lively sallies and jovial spirit of these youth, and he is almost imperceptibly drawn more and more into their company. His stronghold seems to be giving way; his hitherto brave heart is growing weak. He is invited to accompany them for a walk, and they lead him to a saloon. Oysters or other refreshments are called for, and he is ashamed to draw away and refuse the treat. Having once overstepped the bounds, he goes again and again. A glass of beer is thought to be unobjectionable, and he accepts it; but still, with all, there are sharp twinges of conscience. He does not openly take his stand on the side of God and truth and righteousness; the society of the sly, deceptive class with which he is associated pleases him, and he is led a step further. His tempters urge that it is certainly harmless to play a game of cards and to watch the players in a billiard hall, and he yields repeatedly to the temptation. {4T 435.2}

En ung sendes fra en fjern stat for at få glæde af colleget i Battle Creek. Han kommer fra sit hjem med sine forældres velsignelse på sit hoved. Han har dagligt lyttet til alvorlige bønner opsendt fra familiealteret og han er tilsyneladende startet godt på et liv med ædle beslutninger og renhed. Hans overbevisning og hensigter er rigtige, idet han forlader hjemmet. I Battle Creek vil han møde mennesker fra alle lag. Han bliver bekendt med nogen, hvis eksempel er til velsignelse for alle i deres omgangskreds. Han møder også nogle, som tilsyneladende er venlige og interessante og hvis intelligens betager ham; men de har en lav moralstandard og ingen religiøs tro. For en tid modstår han ethvert lokkemiddel der frister; men når han lægger mærke til, at dem, som er kristendomsbekendere, synes at nyde denne ureligiøse klasses selskab, begynder hans målsætninger og høje beslutninger at vakle. Han nyder disse unges livlige udfald og gemytlighed og næsten uden at han mærker det, drages han mere og mere ind i deres selskab. Hans fæstning synes at give sig; hans hidtidige brave hjerte bliver svagt. Han bydes med ud på en tur og de tager ham med til en bar. Der hentes østers eller andre forfriskninger og han skammer sig ved at drage bort og afvise traktementet. Når han engang har gået over grænserne, gør han det igen og igen. Et glas øl kan der nok ikke være noget galt med og (436) han accepterer det; men der er trods alt en skarp stikken i samvittigheden. Han tager ikke åbenlyst sit ståsted på Guds, sandhedens og retfærdighedens side; det snedige, bedrageriske selskab som han kommer sammen med, fornøjer ham og han føres længere ud. Hans fristelser forsikrer, at det er helt sikkert harmløst at spille kort og se spillene i en billardhal og han giver gentagende gange efter for fristelsen.