The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-01-10
Harboring a Thief.

Now" said Charlie Piper's mother
to him, as he went out of the door to
go to school, "don't you harbor that
thief to-day; remember"
"No, mother, l will not" answered
Charlie, deliberately and emphatically.
What! boy of Charlie Piper's age
harbor thiefP One would think he
he could have nothing to do with
thieves. Yes, one would suppose 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 well
knew that it grieved his mother, and
certainly hurt his character, yet it was
some time before he had firmness
enough to take manly stand against
him. .s., -a9s.4 it
As he pushes off to school, his moth
er bids him 50 ren,e,nbern' aa
On he goes until he gets almost over
the bridge, when he stops 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 moth
ing to do, the live-long day, but play in
the water.
Charlie well knew that he had not q
moment 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 lose q whole
half-day'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 old schoolroom,
until, all at once. his mothers word
REMEMBER" rushed into his mind.
1t seemed as if she spoke again in his
ear.
He started up from his lounging atti-
tude, threw back his arms, as much as
to say, Hands of, 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 he could be. GOOD; l have
made my escape this time, 1 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 boy
always delaying, always behindhand,
he became the very soul of promptness.
Hereafter, ",Procrastination,' which
the proverb calls the "thief of time"
kept at distance, and at last ceased to
trouble him altogether.
Now, do our young readers know
what bad thing this procrastination lisp
Procrastination is the spirit of delay
ing, of being behindhand in all our un-
dertakings, and engagements, and du-
ties. 1t is aptly called thief, for it
robs us of one of our best treasures
time.
Did you notice how it was trying to
steal Charles time on the bridgep
Avoid this thief; say '.hands Off,
whenever he tempts you to daily in
your duties; and do resolutelu and
promptly s0hateUer you haze to do, or,
as the Bible expresses it, Whatsoever
you do, "do 1t heartily as to the Lord"
Such a course will certainly rid you Of
the troublesome and dangerous pres
ence of the thief. TRY 1T.