Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-10-01
- = - -
In the Rapids.

All persons who are well-informed on
current affairs will recollect an account OF
a thrilling event which went the rounds Of
the journals few months since. 1t was
sketch of the loss of small lad, who in al
tempting to cross the Niagara river above
the rapids, had his boat drawn into the
rushing waters, and finally he and it were
carried over the great fall into the boiling
abyss below, and were swept away forever.
When the little fellow started from the
shore, he could have made the opposite
side with ease, for it was a point of the
river where it is often crossed, but he anus
ed himself, while the current bore him Oh
until he WAS in the rapids. Then he rallied
himself, and although thea rushing waters.
were around him, vet he piled himself sos
vigorously to his oars, that he held his boat
against the current until his tiny strength
gave out, and be yielded to the irresistible
influence of the stream. Yet be surrendered
not then without struggle; but with a spir-
it worthy of all praise, he plunged into the
eaping waters, and attempted to swim 81
shore. But he failed in it. His body was
carried over the cateract, swept into the
whirlpool below, and then perhaps on to
Lake Ontario. 1t has not been found, and
probably never will be until the waters
shall give ptheir dead.
How graphically illustrative is this mel
ancholy case, of the condition of thousands
who are on the stream of life.
The young man with the future all be-
fore him, full of its rich promises, who neg
lects the noble objects of his being, and
fails to cultivate the immortal part within
him that he may be useful-who enjoys
himself only for the qualification of frivol-
GUS pleasures-or what is worse, runs in:o
bad habits'-is like the little fellow above
Nisgara Fals He is in the rapids, though
the water may appear smooth and clear,
around him, yet if he do not soon exert him.
self, he will be carried over the precipice to
certain ruin. -...r
The man of business who is obliged to
call Oh friends to aid him to means, yet
who likes to make dash-Who must sport
bis horse and buggy, smoke his cigars. and
take his mint ju!eps is in the rapids,
and he will inevitably be carried over the
fails, unless he escapes instantly to the
shore.
The man who is of peevish temper
who is fading fault with this person or Fiat
and rarely sees an object that pleases him
he is in the rapids, losing respect every
day, and if he DO not soon Use the oar O.
! ud dgnent, will be ere long condemned ane
Stunned by every body.
The man who will resort to falsehood-
who will permit himself to tell deliberat,
untruth, either to aid his objects,or to shiee
! himself from censure for errors committed
he is in the rapids, and SO sure as he dc
not abjure the vile untruth, and the habit
of it, so sure will he be of losing the conf.
dence and respect Of those whose good vii
and opinion are worth POSSESSING.
The man who is out of business and ye
lacks the energy or the will to take hold ol
ything that offers, because it is not just
such as he should like, while at the same
time his pockets are very light-that man
is in the rapids, and must soon draw upon
his friends or be landed in the poor house.
The farmer who follows crop after crop
upon the same land without manuring- -
who lets his fences go to ruin, and the bri-
ars and noxious weeds find lodgment on
his soil--that man, when he ascertains
he can hardly make the two ends meet,
while his neghbo, Thrifty, who enriches
his land, and is filling his pockets--that far
mer, if he can be called such, is in the rap
ids, and will soon be carried off to the west,
where the Gland isn't worn out, if he Can
save enough from the wreck Of his estate
to get there. ~.
The man who has any habit about him
which he knows Is bad, (which he knows
is injuring him in mind, body or estate, is
in the rapids, with fall before him over
which he will plunge, to the loss of char
acter and respect, if he does not push for
the shore.
The man who lifts the cup of intoxiea-
ting drink to bis lips-who likes the pleas
ant stimulous CT it, and has desires for its
agreeable effects at certain hours of the day
that man is in the boat above the rapids,
but daily the waters foam more and more
around him, as he recedes from the bank of
safety.
Every one with bad habits about hfm, is
in the rapids, and the longer he remains
there, the more difficult the escape will be-
come. Let him therefore make efforts as
the little fellow did to escape, and if he ex-
ert himself with the energy of the heroic
lad, he may save hitnself. If he do not,
his loss or ruin will be none the less sure
than that of the unf ortunate boy who made
the fearful plunge over the lofty and SUBJ
lime Ma uara.