The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-03-21
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! THE TIME LOCK- OF LIFE.
Points Where tho characteristics Of An-

Points Where tho characteristics Of An
cestors Control Man.
There Is q theory, you know, that we
inherit traits and condi diions from our re-
mote ancestors as well as from our Inn
mediate ones. 1 Issomeimes fancy that
they descend TO some people with a time:
lock attachment. a child Is born; he Is,
like his mother, we viii say; gentle,
sweet, kind, truthful for years-let US
say seven. Sudd denly the time lock turns,
and the traits Of his father (modi6ed, Of:
course, By the acquired habit Of seven
years. show themselves strongly-take
possession, In fact. Another seven years,
and the piggishness Of great uncle, the
.stinginess Of an aunt, or the dullness, in
books, of % rural grand father,
y Then, In keeping with the next two
turns Of the lock, he falls IN love with
every new face he sees, marries early
and indulges himself recklessly In o
large family. he Is an exemplary hus;
band and father, as men so, an ideal bus
:iness man and 8 general favorite In soci-
ETY.. Everybody remarks upon the fa-
vorable change since bis stupid, priggish
college days ALL this time through.
every change he has been honorable and
upright IN his dealings with bis fellows.
Suddenly the time lock Of thieving
ancestor is turned on; he finds tempta-
ton too strong for even that greatly,
uaderestimated power-the force Of
habit Of q lifetime-and the trust funds
in his keeping disappear with him
sto Canada Every body Is surprised,
zahocked, pained-and he, no doubt, more
80 than any one else. Emotional insanity
SIS offered as a. possible explanation by
the charitable; long headed, cal lculating,
Intentional rascality by the. severe Or
self righteous. !
And hea?S Well, he Is wholly unable to
account fori at all He knows that he
had not lived all these years as COM
sscious, self controlled thief. He knows
that the temptations Of his past life had
never before taken that particular form.
He Knows that the impulse was sudden.
binding, overwhelming but he does not
know why and how. II was like an
awful dream. Hea seemed to bel power
less to overcome its The time lock had
turned without his knowledge, and in.
spite off himself The unknown, nm
heard &c thisvish ancestor took posses
sion, as siit were, !, through force Of su-.
;perior strength and ability, and then It
was his hour. The hereditary shadow
Son: the dial had come around to him.
The great uncle hour was passed. sf ss.
He, no. doubt was turned onto some
other dazed ton-iin Maine or.
Texas had fallen heir to q drop too
much hofs bis blood, and she, poor thing,
to be a girl this time, forth
with proceeded to fall: n love With her.
Ifriends husband seeing he was the only
man at hand at the time; while the
Ethievish ancestor left; In shame and con-
triton, g small hut light fingered boy In
Georgia to keep his engagement with.
our respectable highly honored and
heretofore highly honorable emano Of affairs
inWaII street The time lock- OF hered.,
'ity had been set for this hour, and the,
:pachinerys Of circumstan oiled the
wheels and silently moved the dial
iBelfords Magazine .