Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-05-13
EDGEFIELD, S. c., MAY 13, 1857.
From the Baltimore Sun.
BEHIND TIME.

A railroad train was rushing along at almost
lightning speed. A curve was just ahead, be-
yond which was station at which the cars
usually passed each other. The conductor was
late, so late that the period during which the
down-t rain was to wait had nearly elapsed I;
but he hoped yet to pass the curve safely. Sud-
denly a locomotive dashed into sight right ahead.
In an instant there was collision. A Shrek,
a shock. and fifty souls were in eternity and
all because an engineer had been behind time.
\ great battle was being fought Column
after column had been precpitated for eight
mortal hours on the enemy posted along the
ridge cf hill The summer sun was sinking
to the west; reinforcements for the obstinate
defenders were already in sight; it was neces-
sary to carry the position with one final charge,
or everything would be lost Apowerful corps
had been summoned from across the country,
and if it came up in season all would yet be
right The great conqucrer, 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 appear the imperial guard was beaten back !;
Waterloo was lost. Napoleon died prisoner
at St. Helena because one of his marShals was
behind time.
A leading firm in commercial circles had long
struggled against bankruptcy. As it had cnor-
nous assets in California il expected rcmittanccs
by certain day, and, if the sums promised ar
rived, its credit, its honor, and its future pros
perity would be preserved. But week after
week elapsed without bringing the gold. At
last came the fatal day on which the firm had
bills maturing to enormous amounts. The stea-
mcr was telcgraplcd at day break; but it was
found on inquiry that she brought no funds /;
and the house failed. The next arrival brought
nearly half million to the insolvcnts, bnt it
was too late; they were ruined because their
agent, in renting, had been hhind time.
\ condemned man was being led out for exc
cuton lie had taken human lifc but under
circumstances of the greatest provucation, and
public sympathy Was active in his behalf. Thou
sands had signed petitions for q reprieve, IL ia
vorabc answer had been expected the night be-
fore, and, though it had not come, even the
sheriff felt confident that it would yet arrive in
season. Tins the morning passed without the
appearance of the messenger. The last moment
was up The prisoner took his place on the
prop, the cap was drawn over his eyes, the bolt
was drawn, and liiclcsS body swung revolving
in the wind Just at that moment IA horSeman
came into sight, galoping down lIill, his stced
covered With lOan. TIC CaIrlcu II lItCkct III HIS
right hand, which he waved partially TO the
crowd. lie was the express rider with the re-
prieve. But he had come too late y Acompara-
lively innocent man had died an ignominious
death because 4 watch had been five minutes
too slow, making lis bearer arrive t'hf1d time.
It is continually so in life. The best laid
plans, the most important affairs, the fortunes
of individuals the veal Of nations, honor, hap
pincss, life itself, arc daily sacrificed because
somebody is "Lchiuhtime." There are men who
always fail in whatever they undertake, simply
because they are ''bchind time" There arc
others who put off reformation year by year,
till death Scizes them, and they perish unrepen-
tallt. because forever "bchind time" The Al
lies have lost nearly year at Scbastopol, be-
cause they delayed u superluous day after the
battle Of Alma, and came up too late for carp
de mnia just lwcnty-luur hours "behnd time"
Five minutes in Il crisis is worth years 1t is
but little period, yet it has often saved Il for.
tune or redeemed a people. If there is one viz
the that should Lc cultivated more than another
bv him who would succeed in liic, it is punctu
ality; if there is one error that should be
avoided, it is being Jthind!ime.