The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-07-17
LET 1T LIE OVER "

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judicious mode of dispoSing of Il meas
ure that is not worth discussing. To get
it on the table is equivalent to its being
put under the table and ont of sight for
ever. About one-half of all the laws
proposed in Congress and il our State as
Semblies could lie over Indefinitely with
out any detrimcnt to the public veal.
Public men seem to be fond of taking
things to pieces just for the pleasure of
putting them together again. The count
ry at large is very much relieved when
our Senators and Representatives con-
clude to let the business before them lie
over to another session and go home.
"Let it lie over" is 4 good rule to 60
by when you have received an insulting
letter. which you are inclined to answer
instantly, and under the impulse of Il
good red-hot fit of anger. If you think
that it will help to relieve your mind you
can write out your reply, but it may not
be we'll to post it by the next mail. Let
it lie in your portfolio for day or two;
then take it up, and if, upon due retlec-
ton it appears to be the wisest thing to
do, you can send it Oft But most likely
bv this time you may be satisfied that
nothing will be lost by taking a some
what quieter tone, and so your original
dranght will find its way into the fire.
,r,n1 ,,1on whom hn
very wrathy, before he takes any action,
to sleep over his grievance, and then see
how it looks in the clear, cool light of
the morning sun.
Once in while we find ourselves in
some tight place. and how to extricate
ourselves we do not know. The waters
are rising, and if we do not get over the
stream soon, it may be impossible for us
to cross at all. Have you never observed
how often time settles things for us,
which we could hardly have managed
for ourselves? If you only wait long
enough, the stream which is now rising
will fall off again. Do you not remem
Der how worried you were year ago
about some blunder you had made. or
something that was said about you III the
newspaper. What do you care for 1t
now? A year hence You will care just as
little about the matter that disturbs you
to-day, and kept you awake last night.
Perhaps your eye is caught by some
brilliant speculation, and if you are ready
to take the venture, you may make your
fortune in day. " Let it lie over y till
YOU have time to consider it, for you may
come to ruin in 4 day. The whole thing
may have a very plausible look, the maps
and pictures may be very attractive, and
the reports of experts highly satisfactory;
but YOU had better wait and find how
much those beautiful maps and pictures
signify, and what the testimony of the
experts is really worth. There are ten
men who come to grief by jumping too
soon. where there is one who suffers from
reasonable delay.
You may be in such a position that you
are exposed to applications of various
sorts from persons seeking aid, agents
soliciting subscriptions, and the like
The cause which you are asked to patron
iZc is declared to be one of unquestion-
able merit and immense Importance: the
book that is thrust upon you is work
(which 10 reading man can afford to he
without and SO you are wheedled into
giving for an object that proves to be
sham, or buying book which is mere
trash. How often one says to himself,
sswhat a fool | was to be humbugged in
that way ~ and very probably the next
morning he is caught in some foolish trap
all because he did not let the thing g lie
over
In every cautious matter we ought to
move slowly and cautiously. Business
engagements are formed in hurry and
repented of at leisure. Matrimonial ell
ragements are entered in the same way,
for which there is no place for repentance.
In many eases the temptation to act at
once and just as the feelings dictate, is
almost irresistible. We fling back the
contemptuous word, and in a moment of
passion strike a blow at the heart of those
whom we best love, which an hour later
would give worlds to recall. 1t isa great
accomplishment when one has learned
the art of holding his tongue where
silence is the truest wisdom, and of doing
nothing where inaction is the safest
course. The word Procrastination has a
bad faint, although it means nothing but
''the putting off until tomorrow, which
is sometimes the wisest thing we can do.
But not always; there are cases in
which it is bad to let things lie over. y
The sooner they are disposed of, the bet
ter. If you have disagreeable and i'll
evitable duty to perform, it is well to
have it through with as soon as possible.
1t will grow more and more formidable
the longer it is deferred. AS you brood
over it day by day, and allow it to take
possession of your night-viSions, the
mole-!,ill will grow into a camel. If
you have got to take the cold plunge, the
longer you stand Shivering ON the bank
tile more unnerve ed you will become.
The habit of putin. things of " is
one that grows upon man impercepti-
BILE and rapidly. Some persons never do
anything in the morning which it may be
possible for them to do towards night, OF
anything to-day which can be done on
the morrow. If they have note to pay
they always wait till the last moment of
grace. If they have letters to answer,
they let them lie until most of them are
outlawed If there is leak in the roof,
they defer repairs until the house is half
ruined. If there is hole in the dam
that ought 10 be stopped, they wait until
the dam is carried away.
No one can estimate the harm that
may be done by just letting things :" lie
over" Many Il man puts off making his
will because he can do it ut any time,
until it is to late, and then his property
all goes just where he was most anxious
it should not 90. 4 lucrative place is
offered to Il young man, and he lets the
application lie over fur uay AZ two.
when he iind2 that another has stepped
into his shoes. The farmer lets his crop
lie over, and by the time he is ready to
take it to market the crop is spoiled. The
mechanic lets his work lie over, until the