Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-05-16

sThs young people Of today said
the old squire .can have no idea OF the
difficulties and dangers Of travel my
years ego. I remember journey that
/ made in 1886 from Pittsburgh in
Pennsylvania to New Orleans. NY
chance Of success IN an important under
taking depended upon my reaching
New Orleans before certain day.
1t was then late in November. The
cold was becoming intense. The Ohio
River was full of large blocks of float
ing ice. and there seemed to be immi-
nent danger that the channel would
close over before we could reach the
Mississippi If it should do so. there
was no chance of my reaching New Or
leans BY land. Tracts of unbroken
wilderness interviewed, and the storms
were frequent and heavy.
Can we make it, Captain ? I asked,
IS I stood beside the master of the
messenger On the deck. Watching the
wheel laboriously blowing its way
through the masses of ice.
I don't know, sir he said. The
channel is nearly closed. If we can cut
our way through to warmer water to-
day, we are safe; but the ice is making
fast Every minute counts
Il was trembling with excitement.
Ny future largely depended on the
progress of this numbering old boat.
She seemed to me to creep, to crawl /;
finally, she stood still.
@The wheel was deliberately reversed.
The boat quivered, ran to shore,
stopped.
Il lesped to the edge of the deck.
The pilot stood idle, the Captain and
clerk joked leisurely together.
what has happenedy I shouted
why do you stop? I am ruined if you
do not 60 onP
We are wooding up calmly said
the wheelman. Taking on fuel
"The black deck-hands below were
throwing the wood to the boat from Q
heap on shore, accompanying their
motions with slow melancholy chant.
Il grew wild with impotence. I
counted each lost minute as step TO-
wards disaster.
"The boat started again in half an
hour, but twice that night it stopped to
wood up, each time, as thought, los
ing ground hopelessly. But when
morning came she steamed triumphantly
out of the caking ice into free water.
We had passed on our way two boats
lying caught among the icy hummocks.
They had not fuel enough to keep
their engines going said the Captain.
They wouldn't stop at the last station
thought they could make il. In q
run like this, you have got to make
haste slowly if you want to win.'
Il often think of the Captains say
ing, when see ambitious young people
starting in their run for life. They're
too anxious, too eager. They are not
willing to stop to take on fuel
when I see lad growing thin and
yellew over his books, making haste to
win his honors ut college or his degree
in . profession, I feel like saying to
him, Lay by! Play ball-walk-sleepi
You're burning up the fuel in your
body; take on more
@Or when see a middle-aged man
driving night and day at one idea,-
business or book-writing, or even
preaching,-I think. You're using up
all your fuel Stop. Go out among
other men. Take in fresh ideas. fresh
emotions haste slowly.
More than all, when I see men who
profess to be Christians. living with no
other instruction for their daily life
than that of weekly sermon, I want to
say to them. You must take in fuel
Read your Bible. Do not omit prayer.
You cannot make spiritual progress
simply with good intentions. Wood up,
or the motive power will die out. and
the better life stop midway in its
heavenward journey-frozen in tho
ce!"-Youth's Companion.