Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-02-05
CHARLIE LEWIS on THE BRIDGE.

CHARLIE LEWIS ON The BklDGE.
"Now," said Charlie Lewis mother to him,
as he went out of the door to 80 to school,
"don't you harbor that thief to-day; remem-
bcr."
"No, mother, will not" answered Char
lie, deliberately and emphatically.
What Il boy of Charles age to harbor a
thiefY One would think he would have moth.
ing to do with thieves. Yes, one would sup.
pose SO, and yet there was one thief SO sly
that he used to insinuate himself into Char
lies good graces, and Charlie used to go with
him and although he we'll knew that it
crievcd his mother, and certainly hurt his
character, yet it was some time before he had
frmness enough to take manly stand against
him.
As he pushes off to school, his mother bids
him "remem6er {"
On he goes until he gets almost over the
bridge, when he stops a minute to watch the
little fishes darting about in the water below.
He almost wished he were fish, that he had
no grammar to learn, or copy to write; he
was sure fishes must be very happy, with
nothing to do the lve-long day but play in
| the water.
Charlie we'll knew that he had not a mo.
ment to spare on the bridge; he knew that
precisely five minutes after nine the master
fastened the door for prayers, and no tardy
boy could get in he knew it was too bad to
los? halfday's school; but for all that he
kept stopping and delaying: In fact, his old
companion, the thief, was by his side, ready
to steal his precious moments, so the boy kept
stopping and stopping, thinking about the
fishes, and saying, "Oh! it is not pleasant to
be cooped up in that school-room," until all
at once, his mothers word, remember" "
rushed into his mind. 1t seemed as if she
spoke again in his ear.
lie started up from his lounging attitude,
threw back his arms, as much as to say,
Glands off, Mr.. Thief" and took to his heels
in the direction of the school-room. Charlie
ran with all his might. He arrived just the
moment the master was about locking the
door, and happily got in.
"Good," said Charlie, looking as glad as
could be; "Good, have made my escape
this time, l have Goodbye, Mr.. Thief, you
and have, | hope, done having any more
dealings together"
Charlie was as good as his word and from
this time, instead of being a boy always de-
laying, always behind.hand, he became the
very soul of promptness.
Hereafter, "procrastination," which the
provcrb calls the "thief of time" kept at q
| distance, and at last ceased to trouble him
altogether.
! Now, do our young readers know what
! bad thing procrastination is? Procrastination
is the spirit of delaying, of being behindhand
in all our undertakings and duties. 1t IS
aptly called thief, for it robs us OF one of
our best trcasurcs-ttme.
Did you notice how it was trying to steal
Charles time on the bridge? Avoid this
thief; say GLANDS off, whenever he tempts
you to delay in your duties; and do resolute-
, ly and promptly whatever you have to do, or,
as the Bible expresses it, "Whatsoever ye do,
do it heartily as to the Lord" Such course
will certainly rid you of the troublesome and
! dangerous presence of this thief-try it
; HARRY's SLEIGH BELL.-Harry Farchild
carried little sleigh bell to church one Sun
day, and when he walked up the ailse it made
a noise at every step.
! When he was seated in the pew he couldn't
move without making it rattle, so that some
folks heard it, and one man looked round to
see what made the noise.
Harry soon got tired of sitting so still, and
tried to think what he should do, for he was
in great trouble.
! After little while he put his hand into his
pocket and took the bell out slowly, holding
it tightly, so it couldn't rattle, and looking up
to his mother, with a guilty face, asked her to
take it; but she smiled and shook her head,
as much as to say, "No, you must take care
of it yourself, for punishment. So Harry
had to Keep very quiet till the service was
done Then he drew long breath, and said
to himself, II don't believe shall ever hear
the last of this bell" And he was right, for
he hasn't yet
~" TO be truly happy, forget your own un-
happiness in ministering to some one more
miserable than yourself Whoever carries
Goals to another will warm his own hands be-
sides, Jesus tells US that there is blessedness
in giving