Litchfield enquirer., 1836-12-15
From the Baltimore Monument.
THE LAST BELL.

From the Baltimore Monument.
 a THE LAST BELL.
 1t was beautiful morning in the month o May. 1895. was sitting by the side of Hei en Harris, the only girl ever loved, and believe, the only girl that loved me,-any how the only one that told me so. we were sitting in the piazzi of her fathers house about a quarter of a mile from the landlng place, waiting for the bell of the steamDoaI .o warn me of the moment that was to part my lowe and me.'' Ii came to pass in the course If my history that in order to accumulate a little of this worlds 'gear" that might De the better prepared to encounter the demands of natrinnony, was destined to cross the blue Chesapeake, and seek in the metropolitan citv the ,oIerewithal so much desired. How many swains have like me, to leave home and inc girl they loved, to wander in search of gold doand-good gracious! how many have disappointed ?--Most ofthem per- haps, for though most of them may have ob- tained the gold,-like me maybe they did moi get as much as they wanted. But to the pi- azzi-
 Well-we were sitting in the piazzi, and as may be supposed, were talking of four love, and separation, and all the etceteras or our situation. We were waiting for the most un- welcome sound that ever saluted our ears' namely, the steamboat bell. It IS known to all who know anything of steamboats, that their bells give two warnings to those who have engaged for a vovage-the second is the signal for starting.
 You may rely upon it we talked fast-we thought fast, and abbreviated our words into such ragged sentences, that nobody but our selves could understand them. The first bell rang-the sound rolled over MT. Harris corn field and water-mellon patch, to the piazzi, like the knen of hope, and sprung to my feet, and trembled like an aspen: 4aO George, wait till the last bell rings" said Helen, as the 'big bright tears came over her eyes of blue.' 4te"fs +tf
 aDo no such," answered the hoarse voice ofMr. Harris, as he arose like spectre from the cellar, where he had been packing away his cider-.Do no such thing," he repeated, '.and George he continued, 'carry this ad- vice with you to the grave-and it may be ot service to you--"N NeUer scGu for the Last bell.
 Twas off like chased deer-the last bell rung as approached the steamboat, and had scarcely time to get aboard, before she was pushed from the wharf. On my passage I had time for reflection, and after few flut- terinNs at my heart occasioned by the sepa- ration from it's idol, composed myself to cool reasoning, and the conclusion of the whole matter was, that it was dangerous to wait for the last bell.
 My career in the search of pelf has in de. gree been successful, but verify believe, had not the old farmer told me "never to wait for the last bell, y that now should have been as poor as the morning the farewell shivered from my lips upon the heart of my lonely Helen.
 came to the big city-took lodgings at hotel, and any person who has ever lived at a hotel, but for single day, can rehearse the danger of waiting for the last bell. did it once-it was the day I entered-and lost my dinner. have always been ready for the dinner bell since then, and the first stroke has found me at the table. I mingled with mankind. and saw thousands who were wal ting for the last bell. In business they were slow, and bargains slipped by them. In the of their liabilities they were back ward, and their credit consequently suffered.
 For six months was a clerk-it was short apprenticeship my never waiting for the last bell, that is to say, my doing every thing I had to do in the right time, won place for me in the affections of my employer, and which induced him to offer me a partnership. bell rung, it found me ready. . @
  years, and have yet to be found mapping when the bell rings. .a51 N
 The first love letter \ wrote, contained an approval of the sentiment of farmer Harris, and Helen was not long in settling her opin- ion for our side, when informed her, that if had waited for the last bell, she would not have received it by that boat.
 had almost forgotten to tell you that Hell en is my wife, and she, for one, will never re- pent the morning I took her father at his word, and run for life over the watermelon patch and corn field to get to the boat in time
 Now l would just beg leave to say fev words to our young men about this thing 0 waiting for the last bell. When Iarrived a Baltimore, l waited on some gentlemen t whom had introductory letters, and they re commended me for situation; one was 500 offered, which I was told had been refused b four young men, to whom it had been offere before came to the city; the salary was To, but, said I, .they are waiting for the las bell," and Twas not long in accepting of it. and glad am of it, for 1t was the making ( me. as gst'Harm -os'
 Shortly after became partner in m present business, our custom having increas ed considerably, we advertised for an add tional clerk, the salary at the beginning wa the same that I had received. Many calle who were out Unemployment, but they seem ed as though they had rather wait for anoth CT bell, and they refused. know them al and the young gentleman who accepted, worth four times as much as any one of them
 Haste for the first bell, accept the first ol fer, and keep it till you can get better-re
 member the common adage, "half a loaf better than none"-and be assured that if yo arc worthy, be your first offer what it may, 1t be respectable. it will lead you onward ,,nward