The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-03-08

were memorials of my neglect, if nothing
worse. And / repeated his words III s
tone of respectful inquiry:
Lost opportunities? Whose and
what, tell me, my counselor and friend"
He paused in his walk, and removing
from his shoulder the scythe, he rested
on it, and began:
"We have gone back far enough to
learn the lesson of the day, The distance
we have walked Ia in time one year. The
wrecks and ruins we have passed, and
those now in sight, are the resolutions
made, the purposes formed, the works
begun, the chances enjoyed, the means
neglected, the mischief done, deeds left
unfinished, friendships lost, Sabbaths
spoiled, months run to waste, weeks
fruitless, days idled awsy, hours spent in
vain each one of these lost opportuni-
ties IL q wreck and skeleton on the path
way of thy existence. Hads't thou
done thy whole duty in this one year
over which we have walked, this shat
tered frame, now helplessly ruined,
would ha ne been in beautiful operation,
working out q noble mission for the
good of man. Hads't thou stretched
out a hand to save this struggling fellow
man, or let him lean on thy shoulder,
when he was weak and thou strong for
the struggle of life. he would now be by
thy side, or If left behind, would be
praying for thee, as he pressed on toward
the mark. You have done well for
yourself, but no man hveth to himself,
If he live rightly. You may make a
long journey and at last rest from your
labors, but you will never forget these
memorials of lost opportunities that
now cry to thee from the ground"
Twas cut to the heart by these words
of reproof, and, in my remorse, perhaps
inspired by that terrible allusion to the
death of Abel, i exclaimed Am my
brothers 'keeper?'
Certainly, thou art" he said, with
q calmness that was more severe in
contrast with the earnestness of my Cry. 1
The whole world is kin, and thy
brother is he unto whom thou cars t DO !
a good turn, as both pursue the journey
Of life. All are parts of one great whole;
of large family; the strong
must bear the burdens of the weak; the
tempted are to be shielded they that
ire out of the way are to be reclaimed;
,he shining, yes, the very wicked, are to
De sought and saved"
"And shall I have one more year in
which to repent me of the past and 10
10 works meet for repentance"
And old Father Time shouldered his
cythe, turned himself about, TOOK me by
he hand and said, softly, Thst is not
or thee or me to know. Thy times are
n the hands of Him who gave thee life
nd opportunities. The present is thine,
nd OF that only art thou sure. Improve
he present. With thy might do what
by hand findeth to do. Tomorrow
ever is. Yesterday is gone forever.
low is the accepted time behold now
the day of salvation"
He has gone, scythe and all; his snow
'hite beard still shone in my mind, but
be vision was past, the sunlight was
iercing the crevices of the window
linds, and the shout of ''Happy New
ear" announced the advent of another
lorn.
But it was not all a dream. The river
ews toward the sea. The vessels, with
leir freight and the sailors, are borne
inward. This pathway is thronged with
'avelers, brothers and sisters all. The
Ear is to be full of opportunities, golden
opportunities, to be useful. In the
1usehold lie the best and hottest duties
be done. A cheerful heart and voice
I'd eountenance, an open hand, a word
blessing, when another's heart is
cary or in pain, the Thousand little tens
n services, too small to have q name,
'ecious in the eyes of love, are noted in
at book that records each cup of cold
alter child OF Christ receives.
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