Smyrna times., 1855-10-31
Original Artitlt.
Written for the Smyrna Times.
KfLLsMC TIM G.
BY EXPONENT.


THE reflection that time is so short, and at
the same time so valuable, should serve as a
motive to influence US to prove every mo
ment while it is ours. Perhaps nothing is
more readily admitted, or more frequently made
the subject OF remark, than the tact that time
is short-that life is as but a transient vapor
which is soon gone; yet how few seem to con-
Germ themselves about improving the fugitive
moment ere it is forever fed.
Our object is, to address few remarks to
certain class of people, who, SO far from seek
ing to improve, talk only of killing time. -
Time, though so short, hangs heavily on their
hands, and they seek by amusement or criminal
indulgence, to make its different departm ents
seem shorter Orpass away unObserved. These
persons should reflect that " time is an estate ~
"a trust committed to their hands by Divine
Providence, who will require of them strict
account of the manner in which they have i'm
proved or spent, and the uses to which they
have made it subservient. How have you en-
ployed your time ! What account must you
render That you have anxiously sought not
for the best method of improving, but for the
surest means OF sqpanderlng, wasting, and
"klling" it. That you have endeavorcd to
employ yourself in such manner as shall make
the moments slide away unobserved and the
hours and days to whirl in such rapidity amid a
round of sinful amuscments, that they should
leave in remembrance no trace, savea confused
recollection of a heteroclitcal mass of what
amounts to nothing.
Killing time, indeed /! Have you nothing to
DO Is there nothing in which you may EN-
ploy yourself-nakc yourself useful, or, at least,
make time useful, rather than being thus anXI-
Gus to waste it p! Have you laid up abun-
dant store of know!edge Is history SO well
stored in your mind that you are acquainted
with every important incident connected there
with do you understand the motions of the
heavenly bodies and have you made yourself
master OF every depth of philosophy, so far as
it is permitted man to penetrate? Have you
laid by such a store of knowledge that it is ab
soIute folly to attempt to acquire more! j
not, YOU are nexcusabe in wasting the pre-
cious seasons Of Improvement in licentiousnesi
and follow.
God has given you a mind susceptible of ac
quiring knowledge, and abundant means of do
ing it, lie has laid before you the creation al
an open book, in which you may read will
pleasure and instruction-in which there is in
tiaitely much to attract wonder and admiration
aud no one can study the most minute pag
thereof, without being interested and instructed
and led 10 admire the wisdom, goodness, an
greatness of the Divine Author.
But you, perhaps, reply, that you have sutfl
cient knowledge for all practical purposes, ant
that it is unnecessary to attempt to acquir
more, as it would be labor and pains for no pro
fit. Admitting this to be true: then, go {
work. There is land to cultivate, forests I
reclaim, streams to bridge, railroads and canal
TO construct, swampst to drain, metals to be du
from the bowels of the earth and prepared I
administer to the comfort and convenience