The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-07-29

were true woman, best with the greatest
ot all attractions, heart. Confess that you
owe him debt Of gratitude"
LOOKING AND LEAPING.
twas bitterly cold winters evening, and
our little party nestled closer and closer
round the blazing fire. No one felt inclined
for reading; we all declared we were by far
too coZy for that and all seemed too happy to
talk, or felt too much real Joy at heart to
laugh. So the question was started. as we
rubbed our hunds before the fire, and gave a
pretty little shudder now and then, What
shall we dor" A mixed party Of old aud
young, Of both sexes, must necessarily be
rather varied in tastes aud inclinations, and
ours proved no exception SO it was not till
some time had elapsed that we all agreed in
one thing, to submit our several plans 10 the
patriarch of our circle, who had hitherto kept
aloof from the discussion.
Mr.. Simpson smiled at our appeal, and bent
his dear old s;lyercd head to listen to our
suggestions as, one BY one, they were urged
on him by their ardent proposers. AT last il
was agreed that game Of proverbs should
be played, with this improvement, that the
proverbs should furnish Us matter for useful
and entertaining talk rather than for idle
questions. Accordingly, proverbs and names
we're written on slips OF card, and the great
delight and, IN snme cases, relief: Look
before ycu leap came firth with Mr. Simp.
sons name. Never shall forget tile yener-
able old gentleman, as, raising his head, aud
ss.sinIgcting his thoughts for minute, he be-
"My dear young friends, it is strange that
Providence has given me this little duty TO-
night. Truly In my lifetime ] have seen
many leap and SOME few looks. The plea.
sures OF green memory almost repay the
other disadvantages Of age, aud make one
bless God for being one Of his sheaycs near
harvest-time. Let Us louk into the subject
little"-mentally, | suppose, for our exposl.
tor took ofhis spectarles: " il seems to divide
mankind into three elasses--thOse who cons
tinually look and never leap; those who leap
aud never look ; and the few who lOOk well
and often bstore they leap.
lie who leaps before he looks often ia
voluntarily looks back after, and then, just in
time to be too late, sees his own folly aud
feels its effects. The rash aud ineonsiderate,
it they have any feelings al all, are always
habitual, and, What Is worse, useless penl-
tents. The die is cast they have taken an
irfeyocable step, and that without thought.
Ii is sad sight to zee a man grieyius with.
out hope for an event which a nomtRtary
glance beforehand might have o5yiated.
EqualIy bad Is tie part u those WHO are
for ever looking. but never leaplng. Going
TO perform sume tremendous feat, thinking On
some unhcanlof expuit, they spend lite like
Juhnson's famous character, fearing 10 20
forward lest lie should 20 wrong. Alas Tor
the instability aud indecisiun OF human na-
ture l.eaping in this life, my friends, j.
quite as necessary as looking; We must
Act in the living presant;
Heart within, and God o'eTheai.'
Death will al length surprise these do.hOth-
ings, and then they will see how worthless
an existence oi mere looking Is. They have
been the world lumber, useless TO themselves.
and stumbling. block in OthcrpeUple's way"
but the third set. Mr.. simpson: don't
be SO dismal, please"
"Well, the third setcertainly does bright.
ed the picture, which makes me regret the
deeper that there ATE not more 0i them. TIC
man who looks carefully, deliberately, aud,
above all, conscientlously beiOre he leaps,
will preserve himseiffrOm numerous troubles,
and will Afford valuable example 10 the
world around him. DO not refer 10 mere
wOrldly.wisc glance about him, but TO the
habit oi weighing his luture actions BY the
only standard oi right--tiud's will revealed.
That man who pUnders the influence, for good
or evil, Of his lnings, aud inyCkgs his Ma-
ker's blessing upon them, will spend a happy
! life and when called TO take solemn lODk
Ut the dread leap ii death before him when
preparing esrnestl, aud prayctfally Tor the
great change that IS ever Impending. guided
Oy Gods Spirit, he cannot but rxperIgute Il
safe and happy transition iuto tiic eternal
world.
"Our proyerb recommends a medium
course between rashncss and oyer.rantion.
Il pictures neither the character Ul Tie man
who rushes at ghasm, and desperately hiugs
himself over ur dUMn IL; nor yet hun WhU
swings his body tO aud lio gu the brink. ahO
pondprs and intends, Intends and pUudets,
tili Tie curtain tie night ills, aud hc finds
himself not an inch nearer his destination
| lhan he vas at sunrise; but i pictures the
man WHO looks thUughuulIy, measures lis.
iance aud iarer. aud leaps With btatt hratl
aud steady eve.