The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-01-31
Being on Time.

Being on Time.
The habit of being on time, never
minute behindhand, is one of the great
est helps to success in life, While, on
the other hand, to get into the way of
delaying, keeping others waiting, not be-
ing prompt, punctual, and ready, is the
secret cause of failure in ten thousand
cases, many of which have seen in the
course of my life. We notice it in child
rem. What you are in the morning, YOU
will be at noon, and probably at night.
The child is father of the man, Just as
the trig is bent, etc. The family meet
in the morning for worship and break
fast; one child is late. She is usually
late, the same one. She was behind
hand in getting herself ready; the rest
waited for her few moments and then
went on without her, and presently she
came, disturbing all and making herself
disagreeable and them uncomfortable.
The boy with such disposition is late
at school, not prepared with his lessons,
always just a little behindhand in every
thing, Perhaps he goes to college or
into business, trade or profession, and if
he is dependent on his own exertions he
makes a failure in everything.
"Forty years ago / knew two smart
boys, helpers in grocery-store. They
were brothers. III ~ seemed to be made
of steel springs SO quick, prompt and de-
cisive were they in filling every order.
They were poor boys, apprentices then.
But they worked as if the concern was
their own, and success depended on their
energy, push and faithfulness. Now
they live ON one of the fashionable aven.
ues of New York in their own large man
sions, retired from the grocery business,
in which they made their fortunes Hold.
ing important trusts, they are useful
and respected, citizens and Christians
They owe their success solely, under
God, to their own promptness in
performing every promise, in be-
ing always ahead rather thans be
hind time. And there are mechanics and
tradesmen with whom once had deal
ings and now have deserted, because they
never would fulfil an order in season
, would not send thing home to me wher
they promised, and invariably KEEP
me waiting whatever might be my dis
! tress to be served. This vice runs il
, the blood sometimes, and whole families
are distinguished by taking it easy, tim,
! enough, yet, being their motto anC
rule. They drop behind in the race o
! life. They would be run over if som,
! one did not pick them up and help then
! on. Half the world has this work to dt
! besides doing its own. In the absenc,
of positive crime, this habit of taking i
+ easy causes the poverty and failure o
t the greater part Of the human family
t with the same chances, with equal healtl
J and wits, iii the same field, one man sue
: ceeds and another makes a dead failure
And why? Because one took time b.
r the forelock, was ever prompt, and there
! fore prosperous. The other was Away
!. little behindhand, and by-and-by so ia
behind as to be counted out as Of no az
4 count.
g "When you are old enough yourselve
4 to meet and move with men and wome
J. in business and good works of life, yoi
r will soon find some who are late at tn
q appointed time, who come busting il
: ten or fifteen minutes after the houl
! saying, / had no idea it was SO late
i, my WHICH NEVER u6CclNCu nO uC1OICJ
d am very sorry to keep you waiting A
d such managers are poor timber to mai
d boards Of. If they had the grace of re
4 ignation, they would make room fC
o somebody not always little benin,
q hand.
"The train starts at nine in the morn
ing, and they reach the station two mi
utes late and are left. The boat goes
FIVE, and they arrive in time to |
laughed at by the passengers who s,
70 them wiping the perspiration from the
n heated brows. knew Georgia preac
er who was holding forth in an asylu
- to a congregation of the insane. i
! described man on scaffold about
y be hung, while in the distance comes
Al messenger on horseback bringing pa
- don. But the hour of fate was just
A. hand; minute or two and it would !
- too late. The preacher drew out Il
II agony, by talking and talking, till d
!. Of his crazed hearers cried Can't W
I hurry up little2 They'll hang th
u man if Won don't. And when / 81
~ people dilly-dallying wasting precioI
ed time in doing nothing, ! long to tell the
y to hurry up, for life, soul, salvation M
1, 4 be lost if they arc only little benin
bo hand. It is so in every relation, CALI
"A and duty in life. 1t is the one princiI
!. on which the prize Of success in Il
~ world depends, and immortal glory |
[ vond.--Irenaus i'm N. u Observer.