Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-02-21
prom the Baltimore Sun.
TIL Wait Till it Runs Bvs

y
told of stupid traveller, who, coming to a
river, sat down upon the bank, saying,
"I'll wait till it runs BY" Thousands of
times since people have laughed at the
simpleton, priding themselves on their
own greater wisdom. And yet tens of
thousands of times have these very people
in reference to the general affairs of life,
initiated the lazy ignorance Of the fool, and
waited for the river to run by.
How often do parents, for example,
when they witness exhibitions of anger,
falsehood or disobedience in their children
shut their eyes willfully to the consequent
ces of letting the evil go uncorrected, and
say to themselves, "He will outgrow it?'
What is this but waiting for the river TO
run by? The first lesson which child
learns should be that of self-discipllne.-
No man can succeed in life, or win the
esteem of his neighbors, or deserve the
appreciation of his own conscience, who
gives way to petulance, dupicity, or 9th
er vices; and it is as much easier to check
these natural infrmities in youth, rather
than in age, as it is to cross a river near
the fountain-head instead of where it wi
dens into an estuary of the sea. The par
ent who think that such vices will cure
themselves, will wait in vain for the river
to run by.
A merchant finds his trade declining, a
mechanic his business falling off, a law
yer his clients leaving him, doctor his
practice ceasing; but instead Of going to
work resolutely to discover the cause and
rectify the error, he sits down, folds his
hands, and says, ''luck will turn some
day.; Does such man deserve to sue
ceed? Have such men ever succeeded!
Life is battle, in which victory is with
him who fights the bravest, perseyeres
the longest and brings the most ability to
bare on the campaign. When the British
marched on Baltimore, did our fathers
lay in their beds and trust to chance to
save them7 No! They went boldly forth
10 meet the enemy, and the God Of battles
rewarded them with success. So in the
pursuits of life, he triumphs who deserves
it most. Wealth and fame are the prizes
of those who struggle hardest for them.
The only way is to plunge boldly into the |
current of adverse fortune, breast its
waves, and buffet your course. manfully
to the other shore. 1t will never do to
wait till the river runs by.
In friendship, if some unknown cause
has produced an alienation, don't say, as
too many do, he may get pleased again
as he CAM but find out the reason ofthe !
apologize if you are in the
wrong, and expostulate alnicably if 9TH
erwise. If you wait till the rlver runs by
you may wait forever, and find the longer
you wait the current runs deeper and |
deeper. In your own family, never wait
till the river runs by, but if wife's feel
Ings are hurt explain or make reparatlon
at once; for life is too short and happi-
ness too precious tosbe wasted IN obstlna-
cy, sullenness or misunderstanding, when
4 few words will remedy all. Never stand
On the shore, in cold and suffering, while
green and sunshiny fields invite you
across, 10 the idle hope that the river will +
'un by.
Nations have been lost forever by imi-
ating the folly Of the traveller. They
lave put off making needful reforms. in
lopes that time would correct them of it.
elf. sAfter me the deluge,' = said Louis
he Fifteenth. But God is just, his laws
re inexerable, and peoples as well as in
ividuais must obey or perish. Great evils
emand action. Europe is even now
from the reformation of her cor
upt sociallif She wishes to await on
vents. Better cross the stream at once.
las! she will find some day that the rlv-
r will never run by.