Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-10-19
Ir I ONLY HAD T1ME.-Man is

Ir I ONLY HAD T1ME.-Man is a
strange animal, and is composed of a
bundle Of inconsistencies. From the
moment when he begins to act for him
self, and is capable Of weighing the aa-
vantages Of life, he plays such fantas-
tic tricks before high heaven as would
make the real philosopher laugh at his
follies and foibies; or pity the strange
alterations OF most strangely organ
lied mind. It's impossible to account
with all the metaphysical light that
Nshines upon human motives-for the
mysteries Of his nature, or to solve the
grand problem Of bis temporal exis.
tence. His resolutions are like rope
Z OF sand-thcy are made in the best OF
falkland they perish like the ephe-
mera of day, before any thing has
been accomplished towards that degree
of perfection which had been enthusi-
.asticalIy marked out. He determines
upon course of action, the objection
of which is, to give him an elevated
standing Intellectually and morally a.
mong the beings of creation which
swarm around; but, like the evanes-
cence of the rainbow, it partakes of all
its varied tints, and perishes while he
may still be contemplating the splen-
did prospect before him. Every one
has discovered that it is easier to make
resolutions than preserve them; it is
much less difficult to say what ought
to be done, and what shall be done,
than it is to carry outthe many schemes
). which enter into the mind for the ac-
complishment of proposed ends. No
man lives land probably mever has
lived on this earth, who does not fire.
quently, either in the quiet, unostcn-
tatious movements Of his own heart.
or in the pompous vanity of egotsti-
cal boasting, promise soon to consum-
mate certain amount Of good, and
change the whole character ofhis ways.
But, alas! his praiseworthy intentions
are easily dissipated by the lightest
breath of sensuality; he knows not
how to forego the habits Of life which
have become to him second nature,
and to abandon which, seems like quit
ting all the delicious pleasures Of the
world, and going into moral exile,
the more difficult to endure, because he
knows not what it is to practice any
selfdenial.
While this isentirely true with most
men-and the exceptions to it only es-
tablish the general rule-you never
meet with one who is not able to furn-
ish you with what he considers very
plausible and sound apology for the
miscarriage Of his purposes. He con-
hsses he has not done what he once in
tended to do, but then the truth is. he
bad not time TO do 1t. There was al
ways something else that had the first)
right to his leisure, and when that was
done, then he intended to commence
the work of reformation. Poor old
time has been forced to bear a great
load Of this worlds shortcomings. .
Here is a little urchin now chatter :
ing around US, in all the sprightly tones !
o. childhood We will just ask him - -
iew questions, to test our opinion. ..
Charles, do you like to go to school?' y
Yes, SIR !. "
Charles!' = pay t.
! 60 like to play, SIR .
The bell is ringing for school-haye .
you got your lesson!' 2
Not quite, sir, but can get it vet +
q VI # = ~ |
.p mhy did you not get it before?' = :
'Because, hadn't time.' n
been doing2' a'o sou Ii
IT took me all the time to make nv, u
self a kite A' my "
We'll, Charles, / suppose since ro, q
rave so much business on hand 49, te
ant take letter to the post Office lo Or O
ne3s o''se 4ol 50
No sir, i havn,t time, #
Now in this little fellow we have an p
pitome Of man. The probability i \
'hen he goes to school, he will receive 81
punishment for negfecting his book
'hich he can justify himself for doing st
pleading want Of time. In this m
'spect, he is like the grown up mem-
FRS Of the human family. Precious Vi
oments are wasted, and ready cx- 81
Use y found, possessing about as much
reg a. that Of Charles--he has to az
Inere y no want Of ambition in n
an. 30 soon as he begins to witness er
8 Pageanlry q life, he commences de
neMlng ana making calculations AMI to
wing plans; But al in vain: for' a nna in
he never has f;r.,.a..N w %,