Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-06-15
..THE Dooa WAS SHUT,
Br r. M'KrszlE, ESQ, INDIAN sAvr.

i Our young friends who are in the habit Of
reading about Eastern countries, win proba-
bly, be aware that most Eastern cities are sur
rounded by walls, aud that, in consequence,
those engaged outside in trades, or in work.
ingin the fields, have to pass to and from their
work through the various gates Of the city.
1t is usual to shut these gates at 5 o'clock at
night, and to open them at daylight in the
morning, at which time. in many places, they
fire gun as signal that the gates are shut
or open, according whether it be morning or
evening and should any be so unfortunate
as to be beyond the walls at the evening sig
nal, they are shut cut fcr the night.
The writer of this paper during journey
drought Egypt, was sailing slow " down the
Nile, and being anzious 70 see the villages on
its banks, and tie natare,' IF the country, often
landed and wandered along the banks Of the
river. was well aware that had but GER
tain time within which must arrive at Al
exandria, from whence was to embark for
Greece. My comparisons and l we're, not
withstanding, willing TO enjoy the scenery as
we went along, hoping that there would be
plenty Of time. Many trife arrested our
attention, and our boat was allowed leisurely
to drop down the stream toward our place of
destination.
AS We saw the declining sun cast its gold
en- CLEAN on the broad waters, we sat and
gazed on the scene, and tn ought as we now
had but short part Of the journey before us,
we might take our ease but in the midst of
this enjoyment, innocent though it was, time
rapidly and UNDECIDED passed by. As even
I ing began to gather around us, we became
alarmed, at length, lest our time should after
| all prove too short. As the hour for shutting
the gates drew near, we landed, and with anx-
iety and haste pressed on, hoping that we
might still be in time to get inside, secure our
possorts, and embark early next morning.
We now found that in short time we had
much to accomplish, and redoubled our efforts
as we approached; but when within short
distance of the gate, the hour had arrived,
the gun doomed on the evening breeze, and
we were too late-thc door was shut
We now began to lament our folly in lott
ering by the way. Our flowers and plants,
gathered on the banks, av allied us not-the
knowledge ofthepeople or the country could
not atone for the loss Of time. We neglect
ed The great object in grsng down the Nile
to be in time for enr Journey to another coun-
| try.
| My dear young friends, need | apply this
Will not the conscience Of many Sabbath
scholar say, 'sAh, / am loiterer g" You
are on journey: you are, it may be, now
sailing smoothly and pleasantly down the
stream of time you may be busy, very bus y,
in the acquisition Of knowledge; you may be
storing your memory and mind with useful
and beauteous flowers, but if the door is shut
upon you, all these viii not avail to open it.
DO not, then, forget that your great con-
Germ now onght to be to enter in at sthe straight
gait" for many shall seek to enter in, but
shall not be able. They loiter, and hope
they will be in time but how many have we
seen, who, as the shades of evening gather
around them, in trouble, anxiety and distress;
yea, in agony of soul, heard the portentious
sounds of the messenger of death, and ava
kencd to an awful sense of time spent in gath
ering triAes, to find that the door was shut
- CMldren's bis Rec.