Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1874-09-05
Don't Kill Time.

man who was llastenlng homeWard
through the streets i'll the great city
one bitter cold night. Spare cop
per, sir, and God will bless you"
Struck with the fellows manner and
appearance, the gentleman replied;
lyon look as if you had rccn better
days. Ifyou tell me candjd|y what
has been your greatest failing through
life, III give You cnonsh money to
pay your lodging"
i am afraid could hardly DO that,
the bcgSar answered, with mournful
smile.
"Try, man, try" added the gentle.
man. Here's q shilling to sharpen
your memory; only be sure YOU speak
the truth"
The man pressed the coin tightly
in his hand, and after thinking fer
nearly a minute, said.
40 be honest with YOU, then | be-
lievc ray greatest fault has been in
learning to kill time When ! WAS
a yoangster, ! had kind, loving pa
rents, who let m- 30 pretty ,auch as !
liked; so | became idle and careless,
and never once thought Of the change
! that was in store fer ,pe. In the hope
tAat should c,4e day make my mark
in the world, ] was sent to college, but
there | wasted my timc in idle dresm-
ing and expensive amnsemcnts. II |
had been poor boy, with nccr>sitv
!; staring rnc ln the face, think should
have done better. iiut somehow | fell
into the notion that life was to be one
continued holiday, ] gradually became
fond Of wine and company. In a few
ycars my parcnts both died; and You
can guess the rest. | soon wasted
what l4ttle they left me; and now it is
too late to combat my old habits. Yes
sir, idlencs ruined me-.
II bol,cye ycnr ster,'," replied the
gentleman; "and when get home
will tell at to nay own boys As warn
ing. | ana sorry fer YOU, indeed aln.
But it is never too late to reform.
Come tc my office tomorrow, and lot
me try to inspire You with fresh eous-
age.
And giving the man another piece
Of money and indicating where he
rculd be found, he hurried away.
"Nevei kill time, boys. he is your
best friend. Use him we'll. Don't let
him slip your Gngrrs when von are
young as the beggar did. The days
Of your h,yhool are The most precious
YOU will ever see, The habit. you get
in,n will stick to You like wax. III
they are good ones, lie will be a pleas
urc, and above IL success-I mean
true success. You may not grow rich
but your life will he a real success,
nevertheless.
If, on the contrary, You waste your
early years, live for fun only, trhe
with your opportunities you will find
after a while that your life is a failure
yes, even if you should be as rich as
CrnSus.
One Of the saddest things is, to meet
Il man who has left golden opportunity
90 by him, just entering the battle of
life, yet entirely untitled for his posi-
ton. He is to be pitiel and yet
blamed. In this favored land every
one can learn to read and write, for
instance. But how often we meet
young men unable to write a dozen
lines without making mistakes! BE
assured, my young friends, it will be a
source of shame to You as men, if you
do not pay attention to education as
boys.
The world is full Of good books to
read. You are surrounded with
friends anl relatives. BE warned in
time, and coin happiness and honor in
the future from the industry of the
present, and YOU will not have read
this in van.
S.-