Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-04-12
Fer the Beacon.
WASTED LIVES.

Opportunities are the stepping stones
90 success. They are the little short
cuts. A. u were. that lead 10 the reali-
xasioa Ol our desires and those hopes
entertained for - BY our friends.
How many Ofus on our iournenfail
10 see them or else lose our way, then
in despair either stand s;ill awaiting
some Ariadne or with reckless step
hurry on, not caring whittier we 60!
This wosld j. full Of neglected oppOr-
aunitSes.
Toevery one. from the wresched child
Of Poverty 20 the pet of Fortune. oppor-
tuniiies have been given. and had the
former taken advantage Of them. in all
probability he had Won the Midas-gift
or walked beneath the banner bearing
the mystic word ''Excelsior," while TO
Ne lssief might have been given fhe
wreath ufisAmnrielIes wish which Tame
decorases the hrows pf the deserving
In every class of society We come
across a wasted life; We sec one whose
youth gave great promise; one Sorne TO
rule, contest 10 serve; one who could
have been brilliant star in the Lisera-
~ armament, bat whose light is hidden
un&es = -beshel: one whose eicqarhce
Dcmoxahsnes-like might have been
borne down through the corridors Of
Time 20 unbofn ages. content to waste
his god-like power IN bsr-Foorn. gam
bling dens o. sirping of the cup in
which Inrk despair, ruin--death. 4
49,. "a a. - a.. :. Xz4.m =
and often is nj she wrecker Of hopes. the
digger Of the grave ef Happiness. II
is he Calypso that beeniIes many q
Ulysses, and alasl 70 'Self.destfuction.
Energy. tie pilot. absndons the vessel,
and the winds Of Temptation sweep
over Il; the beacon lights are unheeded.
On. On over the ocean OF lie tall rud-
derless.s Oarless. Il u dashed against
ssme hiddea reef. and the waters Of the
Past close over Il and ere long ara lost
In its depths, the wavelets OF memory
sAd me vexselafe ssifthey neser erwefe.
- stmes aubidden guests come to The
hsart-chaSSber Of him who has lost his
oppostanites. wasted Sis life, and they
wiIs aol BE silent.
They lead his unwilling feet 10 the
saagicai Isle Of other days. and there
befere his unental eyes pass pictures of
s~fhe might have been." AZ his feet
sparkle the FUuuf Of Truth, but the wa
tess secede. Fame Is. busy crown,ng
tie eager thFong that suFroand her.
Desainy holds In her han5s many un-
cia;med wreashs. One bears bis name.
The leaves are sadrd. beauty gone a
seene of welded bliss Is given. thrilling
his heart vita emotions long forgotten.
vs<i0ns of wiiely devotion. ehildren
&C ecsisn. happy home pleasures, grate-
fal tributes &c respect, which could have
mafkea his life. and now lost oppcrtu-
mites are the arenging angels that guard
the entrance 20 the mystic realm.
GIL who can iell the emotions Of
sesf-condemnaaion that nj such iimes
sweep over the self.wreeked Tor
lures indescrihshIe must they endBre.
In desperation they seek obliEion IN ihe
madaeniag Lori, thus with their ewn
hands p.aHge adsgger u the hearts of
those who lose them best, consiSn them
90 sn early grave and write out for them
selves "A eplisph uAich des CITES ihsir
name 10 infsmy-
Il = meseF tno isse % amend.
Even thoagh Toe evening" has ZONE.
begia the work, arouse sleeping ener-
~ recall bsnished seiEFespeel, resolve