Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-08-07
cit Might Rave Becn.'

Our associations in life are among those
who differ greatly in their thoughts. hab-
its and dispositions. We look back on
our past life, and contemplate the many
failures aud the lost opportunities which
have gone by UNDECIDED. We are remind
ed OF what we might have been, and
should be aroused to renewed vigor, and
a firmcr determination to make tu-
ture life better and more worthy. Where
is there a person who has not sometime
in his life looked back with regret and
thought Of what might have been were
1t not for one false move, how the whole
current Of his life ':might have been
changed. Look at that poor drunken
wretch Keeling towards the hcvel that lie
calls home. Was he always the dcgrad
ed creature that we now see? No! he
was once bright eyed bay, the idol of
his parents. what Il brilliant career in the
future they had marked out for him. He
has talents such as would fit him to be al
honorable member of any profession.
Blu, how has he used them: All! "whaI
might have BEEN had he only had The
! courage to say nn when he was tempted
to take the first fatal glass. Such cases
are only too common. Oh what bitter
recolcctions the thoughts OF what might
have been, must bring to the minds OF
such men. 1t is hard tor any one to look
back at the past, and see how much better
and how much happier lives we might
have had, had we only done little dit:
fcrent. Could we only look at the future
as we can at the past, most of us
would mark out In life a path far differ
ent from the one which we are now tread
ing. AS it is all that we can do, is to
improve our present opportunities aud SO
live now, that in future years, We shall
have no occasion to look back with regret
and think of what might have been.
How often, almost daily, do we read an
account Of some poor man, who has COM
mitted suicide. 1t may be that by some
unfortunate speculation IN business, which
ut first gave SUCH golden promises of sue
cess, he has suddenly been reduced from
a millionaire to a penniless pauper. Lie
is constantly harrassed by his numerous
creditors, and seeing No hope Of escape,
is at last driven to the terrible act OF tax
ing his life in his own hands and rushing
unbidGen into the presence of his Maker
Let us pause for moment, and con slider
what might have been, had he only taken
the advice of his friends and not risked
his thousands in a vain speculation, he
might still have been living in ease and
luxury, surrounded by his family and
friends.
True it is in every phase of life we
are constantly reminded Of what might
have been. Turn which way we will, we
can see some life which will serve to show
Of what might have been. We are apt to
trust too much to Providence, and do not
exert ourselves sufficiently. We should
always bear in mind that our lives are
what we make them, and that the life
hereafter is but the ripened fruit Of the
present, hence we should earnestly strive
To do our best in whatever we undertake,
and not only for our own good, but as an
example to others. Although we are un-
conscious Of the fact, some one may be
taking our life for Ills model, and shap-
Ing his life accordingly. Thus we have
not only our own actions to account for,
but in Il great measure those of others,
he nee we see how important it is that we
should lead good and noble lives, and SO
live now that in after years we will have
no occasion 10 look back with regret and
say with the poet, that
"Of all the words of tongue or pen,
The saddeSt are these: 1t might have BEEN"
EDITH B. KENYON.