The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-08-22
Last Bell.

AeOS
1t was a beautiful morning IN the
month of May 1926, ] was sitting by
the side of Helen Harris, the only girl
ever loved and believe the only one
that ever loved me-any how she was
the only one that ever told me so. We
were sitting in the piazza of her faith
er's house about quarter OF mile
from the landing place, waiting for the
bell Of the steamboat to warn me OF the
moment that it was to part 'my love
and me-" 1t came to pass in the course
of my history, that in order to accumu-
late a little of the worlds gear that !
might be the better prepared to encoun-
ter the demands of matrimony, was
destined to cross the blue Chesapeake,
and seek in the metropolitan city the
wherewithal so much desired. How
many swains have been compelled like
me to leave home and the girl they
loved, in search of gold! And good
gracious! how many have been dlsap-
pointed? But to the piazza:
Well! we were sitting in the piazza,
and talking Of our love and separation,
etc. We were waiting for the unwel-
come sound of the steamboat bell, and
you may rely on it, we talked fast, and
abbreviated our words in such rugged
sentences that no body but ourselves
could understand them. The first bell
rang, and | sprang to my feet and trem-
bIed like an aspen. "Oh, George wait
till the last bell rings" said Helen, as
the "big tears came over her blue eyes,"
"Do no such thing" answered the
hoarse voice Of Mr.. Harris, as he arose
like a spectre from cellar, where he
had been packing away his cider
'.George never wait for the last bell"
| was off like deer, and | arrived at
the steamboat merely in time to 60 on
board before she was pushed off from
the wharf.
My career in search of pelf, has in a
degree been successful; but believe
had not the old farmer told me "never
to wait for the last bell," that | now
should have been as poor as the morn
ing that farewell shivered from my
lips upon the heart ofmy lovely Helen.
Any person who has lived at hoteI
even for day, knows the danger oI
waiting for the last BELL did it once
and lost my dinner. The first stroke
of the dinner bell always found me a
, table. For six months was CLERK
and my never waiting for the last bel
secured for me the affections ofmy EN-
ployer, who offered me partnership
t which accepted and in every instance
+ when the bell rung was ready.
was almost forgetting TO tell you
that Helen Harris is my wife, and shaI
never repent the morning | took heI
father at his word, and over the fielc
: TO get to the boat in time. When | ar
| rived at Baltimore, | called on some
gentlemen to whom had Introductory
! letters, and they recommended me toI
situation; one was offered, which bac
: been refused by four young men who
t were waiting for the last bell and which
accepted-it was the making of me
f Haste for the first bell, accept the frs
r offer, and keep it till you get BETTER
, Life is short and he who puts off unit
l the last bell, will, as ather Harris pre-
diets, 'come out at the little end Of ih'
horn"
S Young ladies', | have word for you
In the street where live, there is a la
: dy who has been seven years in choos
/ ing partner for life. She has had sew
: eral respectable offers, but was waiting
] for the ''last bell,' and she is now like
: ly to remain to the last belle, for sh'
: is turned of thirty, and it is more THAI
t probable that she must bide single bles
, sedness forever. | beseech all of yol
= who may read this sketch, wheneve
r you may feel disposition to postpone
, anything which should be done now
: remember the words of Farmer Harris
, "NEvER WAIT FOR THE LAST BELL"