Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-05-20
Thirty Seconds Too Late.
BY REV. JOHN TODD.


The Rev. 8lr. Bellwas always punctnal
Whoever might be late to a meeting, at
the funeral or anywhere else, they all
knew that Mr.. Bell would not If called
to attend a wedding his foot was on the
doorstep and his hand on the door han
die when the clock was striking the hour.
1t was, at first, quite annoying to his
! flock to go according to their old habit to-
funeral, and meet it on the way TO the
grave, or to 20 to wedding and find it
all over before they thought Of getting
there. So old Mr.. = waited on the min
ister to ask him why he twas always IN
such hurry, and so afraid Of being too
late" aIH cs cl1r ltI IN al-- ali
''Well, my good friend, 1 will tell you,
and if after hearing me you do not think
am about right in this thing, l wl1
alter .-.--I .-s. lIeirll cr-
That's surely fair" slowly said Mr.,
Slow as if afraid to commit himself.
W non was young man and had only
oeen preaching few months, / was inyi-
ted to go to a distant inountain-toWn and
preach to destitute people. 1 went for
some weeks and then returned for few
days, promising 10 be back without fail
the next Sabbath. Well 1 had,a pleas
ant week among my kind relatives, and
| was so much engaged that hardly
thought Of my solemn duties, till Satur-
day returned, and then my little sister
and beautiful friend of hers, persuaded
me to go little while in the little white
boat Cinderella, on our beautiful lake
The day was fine, and Ginderells spun
and darted under my oars as if thing OF
life. rr.- "a &c .--{ 81
When we got ashore, found it two
o'clock, and knew the cars started in
fifteen minutes / left the ladies and
ran home, caught up my carpet sack ana
ran for the depot. l saw that the cars
had arrived. ! heard the bell ring
With all my strength, l ran. I saw them
start. 1 redoubled my efforts, and got
within fifteen feet Of the carsl Oh for
thirty seconds more Thirty seconds too
latel No more 1000,
The next day was fair, still, sweet
Sabbath Ny mountain people gather
ing, coming down from the glens and fol-
lowing the rills, filed the house of wor-
ship. But there was no minister and
the hungry sheep had no shepherd to
feed them He was thirty seconds too
late -- -e -- 20 81 1a.i
. There was a poor old blind man who
lived four miles from the church, and sell
dom could he get to meeting. That day
he ate his breakfast early and his little
granddaughter led him al the way down
the mountain to the church. How wea-
ry and sad and disappointed he vas
There was no minister to speak 70 him.
He was thirty seconds too lat5.
There was great gathering Of child
ren to the Sabbath school. And their lit
tie eyes glistened, for their minister had
promised them little sermon to-day :
But he was not there. he was thirty
seconds too late. i --il 4ui
There was a sick child up one of the
glens Of the mountain, and she had been
inguiring all the week for her minister
She was anxious to see him and have him
pray with her. How she hailed the Sab
bath when he would be there but no !
he was not there
THAT poor old blind man never came
to the church again. He was too feeble,
and never heard another sermon or
prayer. The minister was thirty seconds
too late. -rs.l- ..t .rre, aF srrr.9
That little girl was dead before 1 got
back, and l could only shed tears over
her cold corpse. had been thirty sec
onds too late 100
On my bended knees / asked Gods
forgiveness. and promised him that, if
possible, would never be thirty minutes
TOO late again.
"And now, Mr.. Slow, am | 'net about
light in punctuality p -aa l -aI
"Well, guess-it-don 'tlook-quite-so-un-
easouable-as-it-might ~