The southern argus., 1892-01-21
1T Night Have Been"


oDliyin wanders laundering and ap-
palling voice.-.'It might have been.'
Those who have snrmOunted trials,
triuMphed over elevations of difficult
les. Those who have been successful in
vending their way to high, honorable
and worthy position in life at COM
paratiye young age, need not stop and
interOgate within themselves the
question-''What might have been?"
For to them this expressed thought is
. mystical and curious one. Like n
dream, 1t comes and moves hmrriedly
by leaving the impression of Its image
upon our minds. Favorable opportuni-
ties are presented to us daily, and if we
would sieze upon them, undoubtedly we
would accomplish more in this short
life.
That our lives may be what we desire
that we may be happy and contented,
we must be ambitious, self-dependent
and honest. Within ambition there is
power, push and go-a-headitiveness !;
without honesty, man at his best, would
have no highger aspirations than that
of brute.
PrOCrastinatiOn has we'll and ac-
curately been termed-.'a thief of time. ~
Retarding, as it does, the progress of the
human race; weakening the mental
faculties Of man, and filling our path
with almost unsurmOuntable imped-
iments.
III we had lived Ia the colonial days,
It might have been that the peopl e
would look upon us us a George Wash
ington. Ii we had lived in the age of
literature, we might have been IL Milton,
a Pope or Shakespeare. who with their
pens have welded such strokes that the
effects Of their writings is still being
felt. They have gone to the dust from
whence they came. The SHOWS of
winters chilly blasts envelope their
tombs In winding sheet. The grass
surrounds them In the summer. The
birds OF the air and the beasts of the
forest are their only companions. But
their names are written high upon
Fams's temple, where no rains. no
storms and no hail can Obliterate them.
II we had lived in the aye Of science we
might have been Newton, or kepIer,
whose names in the scientific world out
shine the sun when in his nOon-day
splendor.
On. and on we might go until our
names were called to a higher sphere,
thus showing us what might have been.
Let as be thankful that at this time the
same privilege is offered us. We have
the educational power In our left hand; !;
the golden wand is waving In our right,
whilst upon our fOreheads should be
we see that every one is the architect of
his own fortune. We should rely upon
our own muscle and brain. Take for
the star, Industry" and inscribe upon
our banner, lit will be-" and bend
every energy 20 its attainment.
Where there Ia a will there Is a
way"
Honor and fame form no condition
rise, act well thy part-there all honor
lies"
Itmatters not how smooth or check
cred ones life may be, there Is u path, u
ravine Of thought from whence Is con-
veyed an expression that will bring him
over the glossy sea Of Ice. 1t Is not the
so called blessing OF life, neither Is II
the sunshine and calm, that makes u
man, but 1t Is the rugged experience,
the storms Of life's tempests and its
trials. Then we see that poverty Is Il
grand teacher, and we who success
fully master our way gain glorious
victory.
NV land is In the land Of "to be-" away
with past regrets. For when we mourn
we are wasting valuable time. The
future will find rs with dropping heads
aud aching hearts, signing and weep
Ing over the departed moments.
Let not lit might have been, be
inscribed upon our tombstone when
We die, thus proving 70 the world that
CIR life was failure, but let 1t be
.Well done, thou good and faithful
servant enter thou npon the heritage
Of the just"
.s.,a w, Jan. IL, 81