Signal-Copiahan. (Hazlehurst, Copiah County, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-06-10
a NEW TIMETABLE.
A Bit OF Talk for boys and Girls. BY ths
Late III. HI Helen Jackson.

A Bit Of Talk for Boy. and Girls. By the
Late III. III 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 destination; 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. II q single train is behind, 1t
throws all the rest out Of order. So
every conductor is instructed by his
timetable, where to wait, II another
train Is late. how many minutes to
hold back his own train, how far he
may then push, and how long no Is
again to wait. Meanwhile the belatcd
conductor is instructed by his time-ta-
bic how to avoid danger. II he can
not reach station at such time, no
must stand still. at whatever safety
point he may have reached. till the sp-
preaching train has passed him. Let
but one man on the line disregard or
misinterpret his instructions and q
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: "Waitv 1t might well be
written three times over: "Wait!
wait! waitr' II we are angry-wait!
II we arc tired-wait! II We are per-
plexed-wait!
After all. managing ourselves Is not
90 very unlike managing train. As
the train must be in good order-en.
ginc, brakes, wheels, couplings-to
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 moro
good, enjoy life better. improve faster.
Again, the greatest dangers that
threaten trains are collisions, and rum
ming of the track. Well, don't wo
stand in the same pcril' I am sure
that We are too apt to have collisions
with other people, collisions with cir.
cumstances, collisions with our own
weaknesses and perversities, even.
And when we spend our time trying to
do something that We don't know how
to do; when we are idle. and hinder
busy people; when we act as II we be.
lievcd that any sort Of good end could
be reached without hard work. and
steady work, and cheerful work, we
are certainly of the track.
Well, then. when we know that such
is our plight. don't you think that tho
sooner we stop. the bctter7 Whether 1t
Is question Of possible collision. as In
o rudeness to some one Of the homo
circle, a quarrel with friend. an un-
kind word to servant; or Of running
of the track through headlong blum
dering, or bad preparation. or igno-
rance, or willfulness, We might, half
the time at least, save ourselves from
these misadventures II we took time
TO think, II we remembered to "wait"
Perhaps q jingle which have written
may help you to recall this good ad.
vice Qor We are apt to forget good ad-
vice when we most require it,) at the
moment when you find yourselves ~
danger.
ANIw TrNI-TABLI-"wArr"
when you arc puzzled and perplsxed.
Leave Oh the worrying debate
And think Of other things awhile;
You'll see it clearer, II you walt
Whom tomrcr rises, hot and quick,
And you arc vsxed at friend or mattel
watch your timetable! stop Just thsrsI
Save tho collisloni Simply 'whtF
Each thins In nature keeps this Law.
The smallest plant abides its date
And summers heat, and winters naW
And storm. and calm, their season walt"
This d the law that rules our lot
And holds the whols OF human fate;
He oonquers who has force 70 stxive,
And equal patience has-to wait"
ST. Nicholas.
i