The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-04-22
A DANGEROUS WORD.
The Word eff" Looks Small md Insignifi-
cant, but Il is n Pack Horse.

The Word "If" Looks Small md Insign1f-
cant, but Il is n Pack Horse.
FRIENDS OF THE II. L. C.-If l thought
it would be proper to adopt new "nom."
and thereby avoid this strange feeling 1
would do so, but it would seem stranger
still to be known as somebody else. If
we would try as we only can this far away
feeling would not meet us 80 often, and if
we knew that the thief of time stole so
much of what is ours, our resolutions and
our promises would meet with more
promptness.
To me this little word "if'' has the
saddest significance OF any word in the
English language. There is a world of
meaning in it; It's word that applies it.
self TO every age in life. The dissipated
man when he finds himself at the end of
LIES journey wrecked and dishonored, in
his sober moments of reflection, goes back
to the old home and sees himself boy
again. He hears the hymns his mother
sang, the prayers she taught him as he
knelt at her knees. He thinks of the ad
vice she gave him, feels the pressure of
her hand and hears her low good
night" The scene vanished, and as
he comes back to the sad
realities of life and think of mis- present
Indebtedness and VICE. he pressed his
hand to his throbbing brow and says:
"If ] had only obeyed," If l had only
needed good advice, eff had only been
what she wished me to be, and what l
could have been, good. honorable man,
but it is now too late" How often we use
the little word I'll" in the way of excuse
or apology when we behold some one of
our friends performing something that
produces a sensation. We eXclaim, "that
/ think of that? If | had collected my
thoughts to that effect might have-but
the thought arises here, if / only pos
sessed such talents as he or she does. If
| could, or if | would arrange my daily
duties, and earnestly apply my time, it
would be surprising how much l could
accomplish"
But IF makes so many excuses for us,
and we sometimes feel rather consoled
when it steps in as a friend. If each and
every one of us would form a resolution
to take no more Ifs" and apologies, but
60 to work diligently, absolutely deter
mined to do all we can. would we not
win? III every one of us cannot be q
Florence Nightingale or Deborah, we
can all be something if we At
ourselves for the position assigned
US. But We say if we had as
brilliant sphere as those people had we
should be as brave and as grand. If we
should be called upon to move, night after
night, with light in our hand through
the distressed and the demented; ii we
should make a queen tremble for her
crimes; if we could write as fascinating a
book as Hannah Moore, if we could ac-
complish all these would we be satisfied?
Most assuredlv not. We would be longing
for something that would give us a greater
name, and ''if' would excuse us in talent,
time and education. If we could accom-
plish everything we undertake we would,
indeed, be a tlourishing people. "If' IA
vors US IN the way OF an eXcuser, an apol-
ogizer and an encourager, and if misfort-
une befalls us after We have tried and
tried hard, let it be said of us as of one of
old, ''She hath done what sine could"
III l could speak so as TO be heard l
would speak to all. Come, Rambling
jerry" give an account of yourself.
Thereon" you have wasted the time 1
so freely gave you. "Wahneta," there is
a little poem that tells us to "try, try
again." "Creo Nay" here is a welcome
don't forget your promise. Barbara
Hare" and isabel Vane," / have found
you in East Lynne" WHY'S it you new
er addressed the secretary? | have your
inquiry yet; will keep until hear from
you. "Romping Rose" 'Incog," "Aunt
Sue" and others, there, see you have been
obeyed by "B ELBA RAYNE.
Ashland O.. April 20.