The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-08-31
u BEHIND TIME."


the cars usually passed each other. The
conductor was late---so late that the period
during which tho down train was to wait had
nearly elapsed.lut he hoped yet to pass the
curve safely. Suddenly a locomotive dashed
into sight Just ahead. In an instant there
was collision A shrek, shock-and
fifty souls were in eternity. And all be-
cause the engineer had been little behind
time.
A great battle was being fought. Column
after column had been prccipilated, for eight
mortal hours, ohthe enemy posted along the
! ridge ola hill. The summer sun was sinking
TO the West, reiNorcements for the obstinate
defenders were Already in sight, it was ne
ccssary TO garry the position with one final
charge, or every thing would be lost A
powerful corps had been summoned from
across the country, and il it came up in sea.
son all would yet be right The great con.
qucror, confident in its arrival, formed his re.
serve in IN attacking column, and led them
down the hill. Grouchy failed to appear
The imperial guard was beaten back. Wa.
tcroo was lost. Napoleon died prisoner
at st. Helena because )ne of his marshals
was bekind time.
A leading firm in commercial circles had
long struggled against bankruptcy. As it
had enormous assets in California, it expect.
ed remittances by u certain day, and if the
sums promised arrived, its cedit, its honor,
and its future prosperity wo,ld be preserved
But week after week elapsed without bring.
ing the gold. At last came he fatal dav on
which the firm had bills maturing to enor.
nous amounts. The steamer wstclegraphed
at day break-but it was folnd, on inqui.
ry, that she brought 10 funds; Ind the house
failed. The next arrival braght nearly
half II million to the insolents, but it
was too latc-they were rumd, because
their agent, in remitling, had leen behind
time
A condemned man was bciuE led out fol
execution. lie had taken human life, bu,
under circumstances of the greatest provo
cation, and public sympathy wa. active in hi,
behalf. Thousands had signed petitions fo
y repriovc, favorable answer had been ex
pected the night before, and though it hac
not come, even the sheriff felt confident tha
it would yet arrive in sason. Thus the morn
ing passed without the appearace Of the mes
senger. The lastmoment was up. The prs
oner took his place on the drop, the cap wa
drawn over his eyes, the bolt was drawn, an
Il liielcss body swung revolving IN the wind
Just at that ins.aNta llorscman came int
sight, gallopng down hill, his steed covere
with foam. lie carried packet in his rigll
hand, which he waved partially 10 the crowt
lie was the express rider with the reprievc.-
But he had come too late. comparative
innocent man had died I'M ignomnious dealt
because II watch had been five minute
too slow, making It's bearer arrive benin
time.
II is continually so in lie. The best lai
plans, the most important affairs, the fortune
of Individuals the veal of nations, homo
happiness, life ITSELF are daily sacrificed bt
cause somebody is "bchind time" There ar
men who fail in whatever they undertake
simply because they are "behind time
There are others who put off reformation
year by year, till death seizes them, and the
perish unrepcntant, because forever "behin
time" The allies have lost nearly a year
Sebastopol, because they delayed a superlr
Gus day after the battle of Alma, and cam
up too late for coup de main, just twent!
four hours "bchind time" Five minutes in
crisis is worth years. 1t is but 4 little perio'
yet it has often saved fortune, or rcdeeme
a pcople. If there is one virtue that shoul
be cultivated more than another, by him VIII
would succeed in life, it is punctuaity;
there is one error that should be avoided,
is being behind time