Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-02-02

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Sees nOtthe spectres of his misspen. time,
| WHITTIER.
1t seems, Mr.. Editor, but yesterday
that 1 gave you an account of the
holidays of last year, so quickly ha:
the time passed away. It is well thaf
there are recurring periods calculated
to make us pause and reflect on swift,
winged time. 1t is only by looking
back on the years which are gone thaI
we can realize how swiftly time is pass
ing away. Looking into the future
time seems often to move on leader
wings; and we sometimes chide the
dull moments as they pass. But when
the eye is turned backward, our days
and years seem to have sped away,
"Like shadows Of passing cloud."
and we sigh to think that so much Of
our allotted space is gone, and gone to
SO little purpose.
"Timc in advance, behind him hides his wings,
And seems to creep, decrepit with his age:
Behold him when past by; whatthen is seen
But his broad pinions, swifter than the windsi"
DIR. Young says:
"wet take no note Oft time but from Its loss"
1t is melancholy fact that multitudes
learn no useful lesson even from the
fight of time. Those who are dispos-
ed 10 improve it, and who wish to ac-
complish some thing worth living for,
are frequently aroused by backward
glance, and induced to press forward,
with quickened energies in life's pur-
suits. But the majority, l fear, are
more concerned to devise methods to
''kill time," as the phrase is. than any
thing else. How many, particularly
of the young, devote large portion Of
their lives to fictitious reading, to idle
reveries, chasing phantoms, and build
ing castles in the air! These kill more
than time. The intellect withers, the
moral sensibilities are blunted, the
imagination is polluted by such a
course; and many man by no other
means has been fitted "for treason,
stratagem, and spoils." give it as
my deliberate opinion that next to
dram-drinking, fictitious reading is the
greatest evil that curses this nation;-
and next to those who make and vend
ardent spirits, the maker and vender
Of this mental poison are the greatest
enemies to society. This position,
may seem unreasonable to some persons
but 1 hold myself ready to defend it.
If thought l could reach any of those
most interested IN it through the Am
erican, I would be glad to furnish a
few short chapters on this subject
But / fear they would not be read by
those for whose benefit they would be
written and hence / shall not attempt
it.
No man, in locking on the past his
tory of his life, can fail to see when
time has been misspent: and hence,
the most active and industrious are
heard to say often, "If I had my days
to live over again, could make vast
improvement" But we know not what
we would do if permitted to live our
time over. 1t is alike idle and foolish
to stand indulging in regrets for the
past, or wishes for the future.
"Time past, and time to come arc not
Time present is our only lot"
The best way 10 atone for the past,
and make sure for future good, is to
improve the present. Seize on the
present moments as they fly, and put
thom to good account, and all is right.
There's no telling what may be accom-
plished in the short period of human
life by wise and diligent use Of time.
Butto accomplish much we must watch
end improve the minutes. The poet
has beautifully said,
s.Thc boldest schemes that human wit can forge,
Or bold ambition 70 10 put In practice,
Depend upon our outstanding moment"
But l must stop these reflections.
which l fear will be considered dull
and commonplace. Ihsve not written
to make the reader sad. Why should
any be sad even though we see "the
spectres Of our misspent tlme?" To be