Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-11-13

SouSlduIluOple, W0uIut naturally inquire
whether he was accompanied by his ha-
rem, or family.
Do The Right Thing at the RishtTime.
A pleasure-boas was laziIy tanning
along, one Summer afternoon. against a
strong ebb>tide. The owner lounged in
the stern sheets. with his hands on the
tiler, watching the sails that dropped
along past like white gulls setting on the
beach. Suddenly be heard splash. The
boat had for its freight a party Of chill.
dren. some Of his own. some those of his
neighbors and one of these little ones,
his only son. not three years old, had
fallen overheard. The first impulse Of
the agonized father was TO leap over.
board. But with admirable presence of
mind he reflected that if he did this, the
boat would go up stream while the tide
would carry him down. So keeping one
eye over his shoulder on his boy, he wore
came around and when she did, it was
far. far from his child. Once. twice. three
times he had seen the little fellow rise
and sink. The boat was now, at last.
skimming down towards where he had
disappeared, but the white dress was no
longer visible. Suddenly. as the father
peered breathlessly over the side. he saw
away under the surface, the CLEAN of the
tiny frook. Like flash he darted down;
seized it :; rose; saw the boat fifty yards
of; struck out, and happily gained it safe.
Iy.
Suppose that father had obeyed his
first impulse. He unquestionably. would
have lost his child. But he paused 10
think what was the best to do ; lie did it al
the right moment. aud thus he saved his
boy. Alas all men are not like men,
Thousands Of families would be happier,
the world itself would be much better
world if men did the right thing always
at the right time, We say thai thou>
sands of families would be happier. Ask
any experienced merchant why this or
that man has failed. In four cases out Of
FIVE he will answer that something was
either badly done or not done at the right
time, and that otherwise the bankrupt
might have been rich. Inquire Of i'm.
partial observers Of our national history
why so many great men have missed the
Presidency when they were known to
eovet it. The reply will be that. at some
critical point in their career. they made
an important blunder. either by no. do.
ing what was best. or undertaking 10 do
at time that was not fit. Often the peace
Of a wife has been destroyed forever. the
character of o child ruined irreyocably,
by the husband or parent doing some.
thing, or even doing right thing in a
wrong way; for. strictly speaking that
which is not seasonable TO do, is not just
then. right to do at all.
This brings US to the great truth, that
the world would be infinitely better ii
men would learn always TO do the right
thing at the right time. There are thou.
sands of well.meaning philanthropists
who will not stop to think what is the best
way to act. but plunge overheard at the
6rst cry of drowning society, careless
where the state may drift meantime. Is
lie wonder that they often perish. or
those whom they seek 10 help go hopeless
ly under? Mercy wishing to do good
never does il. You cannot reclaim even
a starving begger child from it's life of
yagrancy without care and tact and per-
severance. How much the more difficult
to reclaim whole classes Generous and
but foolish men think TO re-
model the social fabric with dash Of The
pen. in the shape of new law, yet they
cannot reset one Of their own broken
limbs unless they have made surgery a
study, and then cannot heal the fracture
without the aid Of time. Men are not
arilhmetical integers. they are not even
mere intellectual mechanics; on the con-
trary, they have tastes, habits, nay. pre-
iudices which must be consulted by the
reformer. If his reform is to succeed. A
shoe may be avery good shoe. yet not
fit one; and SO may a law or constitu.
tion be in the abstract. while practically
it is worthless. Thatgolden future which
poets rhapsodise about. .aud which. as ma
no belieye. holy writ foratalls uiII,navar