The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-03-30
Thirty Seconds Too Late.

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Rev. Mr.. Bell was always punctual
Nhoaycr might be late at meeting, a
the funeral, or anywhere else, they al
knew that Mr.. Bell would not. I
called to attend wedding, his foot wa
on the doorstep and his hand on th'
bell handle when the clock was strii
Ing the hour. It was al first cult.
annoying to his flock to go accordln:
to their old habits to funeral anc
NEST on the way to the grave. or to 81
to a wedding and find it all over be
tore they thought OF getting there. 81
old Mr.. Slow waited on the minister t.
ask him why he ''was always in suct
a hurry and SO afraid OF being too late
"Well, my good friend, I viii tel
you and ii alter hearing me, you dc
not think I am about right in this
thing, 1 will try to alter"
"That's surely fair" slowly said Mr..
Slow, as if afraid to commit himself
"When I was a young man and had
been preaching only few months, ]
was invited to 60 to distant noun
tain town and preach to a destitute
people. I went for some weeks, and
then returned home Tor a few days
promising to be back without fail the
next Sunday. We'll, l had pleasant
week among my kind relatives, and
was so much engaged that I hardly
thought of my solemn duties till Sat-
urday returned, and then my sister and
beautiful friend of hers persuaded me
to 80 out little while in the little
boat Cinderella on our beautiful lake.
The day was fine, and Cinderella spun
and darted under my oars as if thing
of. When we got ashore, l found it
O'Clock, and knew the cars started
in fifteen minutes
II left the LADIES' and ran and caught
my carpet-bag and ran for the depot.
I saw the cars had arrived. With all
my strength ran. I saw them start
I redoubled my vfforts and got within
fifteen feet OF the cars! Oh, for thirty
seconds more! Thirty seconds too
late No more The next day was a
fair, still, sweet Sunday. My noun
tain people gathering, coming down
from the glens and following the rills,
filled the house of worship. But there
vas no minister, and the hungry sheep
;,ad no shepherd to feed them He
vas thirty seconds too late!
There was poor, old blind man,
who lived four miles from the church
and seldom could he get to meeting.
That day he ate breakfast early,
and his little granddaughter led him
all the way down the mountain to the !
church. How weary and sad and dis
appointed he was There was no min
lister to speak to him. He was thirty
seconds too late! There was great
of children to the Sunday
school. And their little eyes glistened
'or the minister had promised to
preach them little sermon TODAY
out he was not there. He was thirty
seconds too late
"There was sick child up one of
he glens of the mountain, and she had
been inquiring all the week for her
She was so anxious to see
1im and haye him pray with her.
How she hailed the day when he
would be there But no he was not
here.
That poor old blind man never
'eard another sermon or prayer. The +
was thirty seconds too late
"That little girl was dead before 1
,ot back, and could only shed tears
yer her corpse! I had been thirtv
econds too late
"On my Bonded knees asked Gods
forgiveness. and promised him that.
possible, I would never be thirty
econds too late!
"And now, Mr.. Slow, am not about
lght IN my punctuality?"
well, I guess-it-don't look
uite-s so unreasonable - it,
night"