Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-12-13
AFTER THOUGHTS

that have passed over us, be they few OF
many, and realizes to the full the depths
of the meaning which are contained in
the two words "after thoughts"
Second thoughts are best" we are
told, and so, no doubt, they often are; but
second thoughts are not after thoughts,
in the sense in which the latter are men
toned here.
The former have, as rule, to do with
some decision, some resolution, which
has to be made more than once proba-
bly, in our lives; not, of course with
regard to exactly the same thing, but,
more likely than not, about some nearly
identical thing.
The stake at issue may not be so mo-
mentous as to affect permanently our
wen-being and happiness; but it is of i'm
portance enough for US to bestow upon
it second thoughts; and possibly, had
we not done so, but acted straightway
upon our first impulse, we might have
made great mistake, and consequently
regretted the "haste'' which gave us
cause to 'repent at leisure"
For who among us can say, on looking
back, that if the time could come again
we should do precisely what we did do,
and leave undOne precisely what we did
not do?
1t may be indeed-though that is rare
that we can feel satisfied with the ret
respect so far as matters of practical i'm
portance regarding ourselves are con-
cerned.
We may have made no mistakes in
business nor in things which are not
exactly business. Our marriage may
well; our children may have been brought
up and educated on good system, and
turned out well also.
We may, by dint of thought, good
sense and perseverance, have arrived at
condition of ease, and perhaps luxury
"a condition which we had in our
minds eye when we started many years
ago to work, with small prospect of sue
cess to come from any outside help or in
f1uence, only trusting to our own power
of brain and determination to get to the
top of that particular tree whose branch
es lowered high above us in those far
off days.
Second thoughts-or in other words,
the habit of considering before acting
always had their proper place with us;
we are not probably of that impulsive
and emotional temperament which is so
terribly apt to be governed by first i'm
pressions, whether of persons or things,
and consequently is always inclined to
go heart and soul into projects which
look inviting, and seem good in every
sense of the word, when perhaps they
are in truth only "apples of Sodom,"
beautiful to the eye in form and color,
but dust and ashes inside.
Into such errors as these we have never.
fallen; our head had kept clear and our
Judgment sound even in the greatest
crises of our lives, and although this
very clearness and soundness may have
forced us to resist and refuse things we
were well inclined to accept, we know
how wise we were, and that in the long
run we did better for ourselves than
did many others who took what seemed
happiness to them, and cast second
thoughts to the winds.
Sometimes after thoughts are remind
ers of stupid things we have done in
our lives with regard to others, think
ing all the time that they were wise ones,
and never seeing our mistakes till long
after.
Reproof administered which had bet
ter have been left alone; facts repeated
to friend for his or her good, when
they need never have come to light, and
our golden" indeed-would
have saved a world of irremediable pain;
blundering attempts at a reconciliation
between two acquaintance which might |
have come about of itself in time had we
not meddled in the matter; all these sort
of ill-starred actions rise up before us
in after thoughts till we are sad at the |
idea of what might have been on one
side, and ashamed to contemplate our
own faulty on the other.
But there are Sadder after thoughts |
than Observation-Disclosures of people |
whom we could have helped, but that
VIC "OlO OAO1OA AosHg VI OOhes NAJ ,OA h1CoL,
evil tempered, or unforgiving.
A hasty word, a cruel sneer, a moment
of ungoverned fury, and mischief may
be done which can never be atoned for
dealt which can never be for
gotten, although they may be forgiven,
and store of after thoughts laid up for
ourselves, the bitterness of which is past
expression.
How could you so forget yourself as
to hurt that heart of gold? Why not
have kept down the quick temper, the
sharp retort, the unkind look even?
All that can be done now is to take
heed never to do the same again to those
who are still with you, loving and be-
Owed, so that, should they ego home"
first, your after thoughts may be free
from self-reproach, and be only peaceful
and happy.
MEDICAL TREATISE.
The edition for 1889 of the sterling
Medical Annual, known as Hostetter's
Almanac, is now ready, and may be OBJ ;