The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-09-05
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Bait. Sun.
Behind Time"

A Rail Road train was rusbino olono
at almost lightning speed. A curve was
Just ahead, beyond which was station,
at which the cars usually passed each
other The conductor was late-so late
that the period during which the down
tram was to wait, had nearly elapsed
out he hoped to pass the curve safely.
suddenly locomotive dashed into sirht
right ahead. In an Instant there was q
collision. A shrek, shock, and fiitv
souls were in eternity. And all because
an engineer had been behind time.
"A great battle was being fought. Co..
umn after column had been precipitated.
Tor eight mortal hours, on the enemy post
ell along the ridge of hill. The sum-
mer sun was sinking to the west, reinforce
ment' for the obstinate defenders were al
ready in sight, it was necessary to carry
the position with one final charge, or
everything would DO lost. A powerful
corps had been summoned from across
the,country, and if it came up in season,
all would yet be right. The great con-
queror, confident in its arrival, formed his
reserve into an attacking column, and led
them down the hill. The whole world
knows the result. Grouchy failed to ap-
pear. The Imperial Guard was beaten
back. Waterloo was lost. Napoleon
hied prisoner at st. Helena, because one
OF his Marshals was behind time.
A leading firm in commercial circles.
had long struggled against bankruptcy.
AS 1t bad enormous assets in California.
II expected remittances by certain day,
and IT the sums promised, arrived. its
crelit, its honor, and its future prosperity
would be piescr we'd. But, week after
week elapsel without bringing the gold.
AT last, came the fatal day on which the
hrm had bills maturing to enormous
amounts. The steamer was telepraphed
at day break-but il was found. on in
1uiry, that she brought no funds, and the
house failed. The next arrival brought
nearly half a million to the insolvents. but
1T was too late-they were ruined. be,
cause their agent, in remittng, had been
behind time.
A condemned man was being led out
for execution. He had taken human life.
out under circumstances of the greatest
Provocation, and public sympathy was ac.
tive in his behalf Thousands had signed
petitions for reprieve, a favorable an
sWer had been expected the night before,
and though it had not come, even the
sheriff felt confident that it would vet ar.
rive IN season. Thus the morning passed
without the appearance of the messenger.
The last moment was up. The prisoner
took his place on the drop, the cap was
drawn over bis eyes, the bolt was drawn.
and lifeless body swung revolving in
the wind. Just at that instant, a horse
man came into sight, galloping down bill,
his steed covered with foam. lie carried
a packet in his right hand, which he
waved partially to the crowd. He was
the express rider with the reprieve. But
he had come TOO late. A comparatively
innocent man had died an ignominious
death, because watch had been five
minutes too slow, making its bearer arrive
behind time.
1t is continually so IN life. The best
laid plans, Che most important affairs, the
fortunes Of individuals, the veal of ma
tons, honor, happiness, life ITSELF are daily
sacrificed because somebody is " behind
time There are men who always fnil
an whatever they undertake, simply be-
canse they are "5ebind time" There
are others who put off reformation. year
by year, Gil death seizes them, and ihey
perish tnrepentaDt, because forever "be-
hind time" The allies have lost nearly
year at Sebastopol, because they deIay. |
ed q superfnous day after tho battle Of
Alma, and came up too late for coup
ds nsat'', just twenty-four hours g behind
time" Five minutes in crises. IS worth
years, Itis but little period, vet II has
often saved fortune, or redeemed peo-
pie. II there is one virtue that should be !
cultivated more than another, 10y him who
would succeed in lie, Il is punctuality if |
there - one error that should be avoided, |
Is being behind time.