The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1879-02-14


suspicion came to my mind that
this was in part my work, and
these ruins were memorials of my
neglect, if nothing worse. And |
repeated bis words in a tone OF re-
specIful inquiry:
"Lost opportunities Whose
and what, tell me, my counselor
and friend"
He paused in his walk, and re.
moving from his shoulder the
scythe, he rested on it, and began
We have gone back tar enough
to learn the lessons of the day.
The distance we have walked is in
time one year. The wrecks and
ruins we have passed, aud those
now iu sight, are the resolutions
made, the purposes formed, the
works begun, the chances enjoyed,
the means neglected, the mischief
done, deeds left unfinished, friend
ships lost, Sabbaths spoiled, months
run to waste, weeks fruitlesS, days
idled away, hours spent in vain ;
each oneof these lost opportunities
is a wreck and skeltou Oh the path
way Of thy existence. Hads't thou
done thy whole duty in this one
year over which we have walked,
this shattered frame, now helpless
ly ruined, would have been in beau
tiful operation, working out a no.
BILE mission for the good of man.
Had'St thou stretched out a hand
to save this struggling fellow man,
or let him lean on thy shoulder,
when he was weak aud thou strong
for the struggle Of life, he would
now be by thy side, or if left be-
hind, would be praying for thee, as
he pressed on toward the mark.
You have done well for yourself,
but no man liveth to himself, if he
live rightly. You may make a
long journey and at last rest from
your labors, but you will never for
get these memorials of lost oppor-
tuulti, that now cry to thee from
the ground"
| was cut to the heart by these
words of reproot, and, iu my re-
morse, perhaps inspired by that
terrible allusion to the death of
Abel, | exclaimed: Am | my
brothers keeper 7"
Certainly, thou art" he said,
with calmness that was more Sc
we're in contrast with the earuestncss
of my cry. "The whole world is
kin, and thy brother is he unto
whom thou cans't do a good turn,
as both pursue the journey of lite.
All are parts OF one great whole !;
members of large family; the
strong must bear the burdens of
the weak; the tempted are to be
shielded; they that are ont Of the
way are to be reclaimed the sin
Mug, yes, the very wicked, are to
be sought and saved.
"And shall have one more year
in which to repent me OF the past
and to do works meet for repent
ance p
And old Father Time Shouldered
his scythe, turned himself about,
took me by the hand and said, soft
ly, "That is not for thee or ne to
know. Thy times aIe in the hands
of Him who gave thee life and OPP
portunities. The present is thine,
and of that only art thou sure.
Improve the present. With thy
might do what thy hand tindeth to
do. Tomorrow never is. Yester
day is gone forever. Now is the
accepted time; behold now is the
day of salvation"
He has gone, scythe and all !; his
beard still shoue in my
mind, but the vision was past, the
sunlight was piercing the creviceS
of the window blinds, and the
shout of Happy New Year" an
nounced the advent OF another
mOru.
But it was not all dream. The
river flows toward the sea. The
vessels, with their freight and the
sailors, are borne onward. This
pathway is sthronged with travellers,
brothers and sisters all. The year
is to be full of opportunities, gold.
Ell opportunities, to be useful. l.
the household lie the best and
holiest duties to be done. A cheer.
tul heart and voice and counte-
nance, an open hand, a word OF
blessing, when another's heart is
weary or in pain, the thousand lit
lie tender services, too small to
nave name, precious in the eyes of
owe, are noted in that book that
records each cup of cold water a
child of Christ receives.