The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-05-14
THE HABIT OF DELAY.
why IL Is Fatal to All Social Wen-Bedn0
and Happiness.

II
and Happiness.
Some one has given the wise counsel
that. in times or pressing emergency, |
when there is but a minute in which |
to act. one-third of that time should be
devoted TO thought. Certainly harm
Is frequently done by rushing into ac-
ton without reflection; at the same
time. an opposite evil of equal If not
greater magnitude results from delay
ing the action which has already COM
mended itself to the Judgment. a
large majority of the Unfulflled du-
ties of the world is caused by the prac-
tice of DELAY. Good intentions are
abundant; the ability and the Will TO
carry them out are not wanting: but the
habit of prompt action has never been
acquired. Persons with this deficiency
are wrecked in an emergency. Let
the house be on fire or any sudden
DANCER threaten them, and, instead OF
concentrating their mind upon the re-
ouired decision for a portion OF the
time afforded, they spend the whole
time in wavering considerations until
the opportunity for action is gone, and
the threatened evil that might have
been averted overwhelms them
In all business, this lack Is most dis
astrous. Each day brings new PROP
lens to solve, new decisions to make,
new duties 10 perform. Each one OF
these demands a certain amount or
careful thought, but it also demands a
final conclusion and prompt action.
He who does not learn how to appor-
ton these to the hourly necessities
can not hope to succeed IN his business,
= be it what it may. If he does not
: promptly decide and promptly act, time
decides for him: the offer is with
drawn, the opportunity is gone, the
, chance has slipped away, and the dlla-
tory man stands bereft OF the power ne
? might have welded and the advantage
he might have gained.
; This habit Of delay is fatal to all
social well-being and happiness. In
q our relations with others nothing Is
: more needful than to do quickly thai
L which we are able to do for their com
: fort and pleasure. Much of this con
sists of little things, of which, indeed
the greater part of life Is made up. Z
I letter is to be answered, call to o'
returned. friendly word OF greeting
u or congratulatiOn, or warning, to o'
, uttered, a temporary distress to be re
l. lieved, a noble charity to be aided
e some cheering news to be communl
% Gated. These things are CONSTANT.
, occurring to our minds, and we naea
5 to do them, but not quite yet. w
L wait a little while, and, meantime, tn
spirit that would have animated Their
|. dies away. and either they are no
o. done at all, or, coming so late, the
D. fall fat and unheeded.
8 When we are animated by ey
Is thoughts or unkind desires, when W
ID are prompted to revenge a wrong, I
ol reproach failing, Ia say bitter words
nS or to do cruel deeds. then is the tim
u for delay. Then may we well wal
III and suffer these baneful feelings
d. cool and better ones to take the
d. place. But if there is any righteor
10 deed to be done. any justice to estal
o. lish, any kindness to express, any lo'
LII to manifest, any JOY to diffuse. let
Us hasten to give it form and voice, know
IN ing that there is neither time to was
10 nor space to pause in the blessed Woi
en- of DOING pood.-Christidn Union.