The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-06-05
OUR GOLD DUST"


"First, am going to write to mother"
said Thomas, with his eye on the clock, par
ceiling out Wednesday afternoon; next
two hours in play next, come in and study
my algebra lesson; after supper, go aud hear
that man lecture on Africa" Did he for
boys as well as men make capital plans which
they do not always execute.
No sooner said than Tom took his writing
materials and sat down to write. There was
great hurrah in the street, but he never
got up TO look out. He went once for the
dictionary TO learn how word was spelled.
+" Do YOU care only when you are writing
home = asked one Of Toms cousins who
was waiting for him. 81 always care" an
swered Tom. The letter was finished and well
done for boy Of his age, in about three
quarters Of an hour, aud he was ready to be
of. And SO the afternoon was filled out as
ipromptly as that letter was filled up. That
is specimen Of Tom.
"Uncle," said Tom, one day, :" it seems
to me your things don't look as we'll as they
might" They were in the garden and " the
things" the boy had his eve on were the cur
rant bushes.
Il don't expect they do" replied his I'M
Gle; I'm no great hand at garden. Well,
sir, what can you improve"
Il can try on the currants," said Tom.
" They want to be thinned out, and the old
wood cut off, aud the right suckers trained.
Don't YOU ever dig around them, and put
ashes on the root:'
| His uncle had never done one Of these
things; did not know they ought to be done.
He thought, he said, currants took care Of
themselves.
But they can be cared for" said Tom,
and do all the better"
Suppose you try, boy" said his uncle.
Toms uncle gave him home for two
years 10 attend the high school and prepare
for college, and that gave him time to try
the bushes. In the fall he dug around their
roots, pulled up the grass, separated the
large old bushes, and put out new ones. 1t
took time, but he tugged hard at it. In the
spring he loosened the soil, laid on coal
ashes, watched the Young shoots, kept some
and cut down others. His aacle did no,
believe much would come Of ii; but he had
reason 10 change his mind. Much did come
Of il. All at once it seemed to him, for
time goes fast to an old man, his bushes were
loaded with fruit, fine large currants, such
as his garden had not seen tor many day,
il ever before. People, when they walked
Ia the garden exclaimed, What splendid
curranIs you have"
!" That boy knows how TO take care Of his
gold dust said his uncle often to himself,
and sometimes aloud.
Tom went 70 college, and every account
they heard Of him, he was going ahead, lay
Ing solid foundation for the future.
Certainly" said bis uncle, certainly.
That boy, ! tell YOU. knows how to take
care Of the gold dust"
Gold dust" where did Tom get gold
dust: He was poor boy. He had not
been to California. He never was a miner.
Where did he get gold dust All, he had
the seconds and minutes, and these are the
gold dust d time -specks and PARTICLES
Of time, which BOYS and girls and grown-up
people are apt 70 waste aud throw away.
Tom knew their value. Ills deceased "a
ther, poor minister, had taught him that
every speck and particle Of time was worth
its weight in gold. and his son took care d
them a. il they we're. lie never spent them
fooliShly but only 10 good bargains; ''forysiue
received was stamped on All ne passed a.
way.
II i mistake 70 suppose the miners and
minis have al the "gold dust You, chill.
dren, nave some, some Of infinitely greater
value than the richest mines can yield. God
does not give j, 70 you in gold bars, day. .
week, month. wear long nobody can be
trusted with 20 much time all al once; but
God wisely deals Il out in seconds and min.
1tes, 20 that you can make the most Of IL.
II you are robbed Of one, or lose it, the loss
is comparatively small. II cannot, to be
sure. ever Be made Up; the whole world can.
not ever make up for minute lost but il
/ il teach you 20 be Thoughtful and careful Of
the rest, you will BY aud b. Be rich with the
golden years Of useful and happy life.
Take care Of your gold dust" children.
Ctilds Paper.