The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-05-27
WATT
A Bit OF Talk for Boys and Girls, by the
Late III. H. Helen Jackson.


A Bit OF Talk for Boys and Girls, by the
Late III. H. Helen Jackson.
Every body knows the timetables
that tell at what hours trains come and
90. Travellers consult them to learn
how to reach their destinations when
to start; how long they are to be on
their way; where they will make stops;
and many other things to be found out
before a journey is undertaken.
But there are other timetables, on
all railroads, of which the passengers
know nothing. These schedules are
made out for the conductors and en-
gineers, and show the exact second at
which each train is due at each station,
along the whole line of the road. You
see there are so many trains running
both ways every day that the most ex-
act arrangements must be made for
their passing one another at the light
places. If single train is behind, it
throws all the rest out of order. So
every conductor is instructed by his
timetable, where to wait, if another
train is late, how many minutes to
hold back his own train. how far he
may then push, and how long he is
again to wait. Meanwhile the belated
conductor is instructed by his time-ta-
BILE how to avoid danger. If he can
not reach station at such time, he
must stand still, at whatever safety
point he may have reached, till the APP
preaching train has passed him. Let
but one man on the line disregard OF
misinterpret his instructions and a
frightful collision may follow. Indeed,
some of the most dreadful casualties
ever known have been caused by the
pushing on of train that should have
been kept back. That is why have
selected for the motto of our private
timetable; "Waitr' 1t might we'll be
written three times over: "Wait!
wait! waltz If we are ngry-wait
If we are tired-wait! If we are per.
picked wait!
After all, managing ourselves is not
so very unlike managing train. Al
the train must be in good order-en.
CINE, brakes, wheels, couplings
make time, so we must keep organs
and senses up to the mark, or drop be,
hind. Other people who have better
health, greater strength, more indus
try, will run ahead of us, do more
good, enjoy life better. improve faster
Again, the greatest dangers thai
threaten trains are collisions, and run
ming off the track. Well, don't We
stand in the same perilp l am sure
that we are too apt to have collisions
with other people; collisions with cir
cumstances, collisions with our owl
weaknesses and perversities, even
And when we spend our time trying t.
do something that we don't know how
to do; when we are idle, and hinder
busy people; when we act as if we be
lieved that any sort of good end coult
be reached without hard work, ant
steady work, and cheerful work, W,
are certainly off the track.
Well, then, when we know that sucl
is our plight, don't you think that tn,
sooner we stop. the better? Whether i
is question of possible collision, as il
a rudeness to some one of the hom
circle, a quarrel with friend, an un
kind word to servant; or of runnin,
off the track through headlong blum
dering, or bad preparation, or igno
rance, or wlllfulness, we might, hal
the time at least, save ourselves from
these misadventures if we took tim
to think, if we remembered to "wait.
Perhaps jingle which 1 have writte
may help you to recall this good ad
vice (for we are apt to forget good ad
vice when we most require it, at tn
moment when you find yourselves i
danger.
NEW TIME-TABLE-"wAIT"
When you are puzzled and perplexed,
Leave OIL the worrying debate,
Aud think Of other things awhile:
You II see it clearer, il you swat"
When temper rises, hot and quick,
And YOU are vexed at friend or mate;
Watch your timetable! stop just therol
Save the collision. Simply "wait!"
Each thing in nature keeps this law,
The smallest plant abides its date
And summers heat, and winters flaw.
And storm, and calm, their season "wait"
This is the law that rules our lot,
And holds the whole of human fate;
He conQuers who has force to strive,
And equal patience has-to wait"
st Nicholas.