Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-08-14
The Bell Tolls.
BY TIE LATE AMOS sIsTY.

IL have been expecting daily 10 hear th'
hell toll, vas the exclamation of Ialhe
whose child had been sick, but was recov
erIng. 1t had been near the grave-ant
the parent daily expected the bell OF deall
would peal out its funeral notes fer The fvnd
ly loved and early lost.
Boys. the bell has IoiIed "many a time
and off," the passing year. Its solemn
tones have carried an additional paDg o.
sorrow, and sunk lower sill the hopes o
many whom you know. II you will think,
for lnlie time only. you will miss play.
some bro:her-some young and lanh-
lnl little friend. The bell has toiled for
them. and, sooner or later. its sound will
summon friends to follow you tolhe grave
yard. 1t may toll before this hand shall ad.
dress you again. The invisible mes ,enser
may be on your door step now. and the cof
| fin may come 10 morrow.
Think moi. Young I'iends. because we
speak thus seriously. ,ha, we would throw
over the bright hopes Of bovhood, a pail
tha, shall shu, the sunigh, Of pleasure from
your path, or heap up obstacles in your
way to happiness. But, while in The mids,
ofeni"ymen,-on The spots which you love.
and the studies You are pursuing-in the
school room-on the play ground-a'
home-at nighi-in the morning-at all
times, we would have you conduct your
selves so as TO feel content, that when you
hear the bell toll fer others. you may be
so situated. that when i, tolls for you, sor.
rowing friends may say, the " early taken
was ready"
Are you on the play ground, or at your
lesson. or wherever you may be; does The
bell toll! Pause, son one is on the way
To where the weary are at rest. Reflect
!, may tol! for you the next time. How
careful. then, should be your intercourse
with play mates, sisters, brothers, and pa.
rents! You would not Ike TO 60 down 10
the grave unforeiven by those around. if
you have offended them, or If they have Of.
Tended you /; you would not love 10 think.
while lying upon your las, bed, that an an
cry playmale's eyes were upon you. You
would shudder 10 know that harsh words
or unkind acts towards sisters. or brother,
or parents, were haunting Your last hours.
Such thoughts would be poor company,
then. How necessary it is to be kind and
obedient. to be forbearing, to forgive, 10
avoid offence, you all can see. Nor are
these things hard to be put into practice.
A spirit determined to do right-a liberal
view in regard 10 The iailings Of Others, will
always secure you true friends among your
associates, and The best friend Of all, an un.
disturbed conscience.
The bell must toll for all. Our own knell
will be rung ou', unheeded by the ear in
death, ,and needless Of The iron tongue which
tells Of spirit departed. But near and
dear ones will hear il-and as the heavy
peal falls upon heavier hear,s,so should all
live lha, the lal! may be lighiened. Let this
be your aim, and whether in The discharge
Of your home duties, in the school-room,
the play ground, the church, or the Sab.
ba,h.School-remember, the bell must toll
and, daily expecting it, SO act that
when it shall have iolled for you. whe.
,her ye, the boy at the task. or the man
high in name and fame, welding an iuAu-
ence over nations, those left behind may
have the satisfaction Of saying ,ha, you
were ready Tor the final summons-and
that solemn tone which announced the 6u.
rial Of the body, give assurance TO weeping
friends that the departed had lived "expec.
ting daily 10 hear the bell ,oII.'