Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-10-04
miscellaneous
THE IMPORTANCE OF pUNCTUALITY.
BEHIND TINE.

A railroad train was rushing along a. almos,
lightning spred. curve was just ahea J., be-
yond which was O station at which the cars
passed each other. The conductor was laIe,
so late, that the period during winch the down
train had 10 wall had nearly elapsed, but he
hoped yet 10 pass The curve safely. SUDDEN.
ly locomotive dashed INTO sight right ahead.
In an instant there was a colislGn. A sht!ek,
a shock, and fly souls were in eternity, and
all because an engineer had been behind time
A lrcat battle was being fought. Column
after column had been preclpl!ated for eight
mortal hours on the enemy oS'ed along the
ridge OF hill. The summer sun was sinking
in he " esi reinforcemenlS for the obstinate
defenders weTe already in sight; il was neceS-
sary to crrrS the position with one final charge
or everything would be lost. A powerful
corps had assembled from across the country,
ard if ii came up in season all would be right.
The great conqueror 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 10 appear;
the impt ria guard was beaten back; Waterloo
was lost. Napoleon died prisoner at St.
Helena because one OF his maTSlals was be
hind time.
A leading firm in commercial circles had
long siru ;gleI against bankruptcy. AS II has
enormous assets in Cal fornia, il expected re-
mi,tancts by certain day, and, If The sums
promised arrived, its credit, its honor, and 'u-
turf prosperity would he preserved. But week
after week elapsed without bringing the gold
AT last came the fatal day on which the firm
had .il!s maturing 10 enormous amounts. The
steamer was lelegraphed al day break: but il
was found on inquiry that she had brought nc
funds, aud the house failed. The next arri
val brought nearly half million 10 the nS0l
vents, but il was too late they were rnine(
because their agent, in remiling, had been be
hind lime.
condemned man wns being led out to ex
ecution. He had taken human lie, but unde
circumstances Of the creates! prOvacatlon, an'
public sympathy was active in his be hail.
Thousands had signed petitions for reprieve
a favorable answer had been expected lh'
night before, and though II had not come, ye
even the sheriff felt confident that ii woul'
arrive in season. Thus the morning pOsse'
without The appearance Of the messenger -
The last moment was up. The prisoner too
his place on the drop, the cap was drawn owe
his eyes, the bolt was drawn, and lieles
body Teyolying in lie wind. Just at that mo
ment hOrSeman came into sight, gallopin
uOWn HIll, INC Slttu CONtIGu W ltH lOdHI' u
carried packet in his right hand, which h
waived partially at tie crowd. lie was th
express rider with the repHeyc. But he ha
come loo late. A comparatively innocent ma
had died on ignominiuus death because u walc
had been five minutes too slow, making il
bearer arrive behind lime.
II is continually so in life. The lest lni
plans, The most important affairs, The fortune
of individuals, the weals Of nations, homo
happiness itself ars sacrificed. because somt
body is "behnd time" There ore men VIII
always fail in whatever they undertake simp
because they are "behind time" There al
also Others who put off reformation year by yea
till death sezes them, and They perish unre
pentant, because forever "behlnd lime."-
The allies lost nearly year al SebaSlopol b'
cause they elayed Supernuous dsy after I'll
battle Of Alma, and came up loo late for
coup de main just twenty four hours "behl
time." Five minutes in crisis is wOrl
years. II is but little period, yet has oIte
saved fortune or redeemed a people.
there is one virtue that should be cultivate
more than another by him who would Succet
IN life il is punctuaiiIy, if there is one err
that should be avoided it is being "behir
time."-Balt'more Sun.