The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-07

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rowful solidarity of the living. They
have lived as in dream. Neither the
starry heavens nor human conscience has
appealed TO them In any way. And now
they come out Of their dream at the
eleventh, hour. They perceive with ter
! ror that their life has been wasted. Yet
they arc not cast down. They say: III
only a drop remains, let us utilize that
drop And they give 1t with such a
whole heart and with such generous
devotion that the drop becomes river.
1t requires singular courage and that a
man should pull himself together with5all
his energy to be able to thus quietly
utilize tho last hour
have sometimes envied the calmness
and apparent serenity-at all events. the
strength OF mnd-of some wretched
criminals struck down by human laws.
Their last hour has come; they are
about to be suppressed, more by an act
OF vengeance than OF Justice. from the
living. Yet they ARE rs tranquil rs
though they had been men OF good life..
II pitied them for the evil they have
done, envied them for their peace OF
mind. admired them when they quietly
performed certain superficial actions and
indulged, for instance, In one last enjoy
ment, for that was one way OF using the
eleventh hour.
Before taking leave Of this world I
would like TO do some good decd as quiet
~ as though had centuries before me-.
And 1 would not be wrong. for we al
ways have cen turtles In front OF us when
we are doing good In the Infinite cohesion
OF the will Of God. would deem It q
happiness greater than all others to be
able to be at peace at tho eleventh hour;
to be able. with scrupulous care. like
those who arrange everything neatly il
their home at night, so that they should
see no untidiness in the morning, to put
all things In their place. repair an In
Justice, smile for the last time. be as
kind as though one were still to be 80
for long time more, and leave behind
one little light, according to the beau
tiful words of the Scripture: The way
of the just shines like light" Is not such
an hour worth aswhole lifetime?
a There is so much value in certain inten-
lions and in certain deep, actions that a
definite satisfaction results from them
whoever has drunk OF this water shall
never tl1ristn When we have touched the
bottom OF things by q whole and per-
feet gift OF ourselves we feel fully and
wholly satisfied. We may SAY, as old
Jacob said when he once more folded
in his arms his. son. Joseph. whom he
thought was lost:
II have known human Joy to the ut
termO 81 1lOTeS NY 5ouIs ~
die, for have seen my son.
That is the most beautiful OF all eleventh
hours.
It recalls the words Of tho prophet:
Toward evening came light Z.
In that light were forgotten all the OBJ
sc,1ritfes that had darkened the remain
der OF the day.
would like to make all mon, who are
my brothers and companions on tho
changing road of existence, careful OF
things OF high value, savers of time es-
pecially. TX
THE valiant mothers Of small mousse
holds. who are careful and saving, do not
allow anything to be wasted !: they are
careful Of the pieces that fall from a
piece of material; you see them make
wonderful things out Of what appeared
to be old rags. Take example from them
and respect the remnants Of time. Per-
haps you may have noticed the WORK
man who all day long sees number OF
chips OF wood fallen under his saw or
bench. At the close OF day he bends
down and picks up all these small shay
ings and lights bright fire with them
on his hearth
These y courageous mothers and these
work,nen who allow nothing to be wasted
give us, in small things, splendid les
son that we can apply to greater things.
Let us never lose a fragment OF time;
let us never pass over q particle OF al
hour. and especially when. at the close close
of life, We approach the eleventh hour
let us not lose one moment OF IT, Like
the workman who sits down to rest II
the fall OF night, and whose face rs llt
up By the light Of his fire, let US make
with the ,shavings Of our days q treasure
az tend erness, of Justice. OF Kindness, OF
humanity Of eternity; with the shaying5
Of our. days let US make light.
MY brethren, these are q few human
remarks that 1 have wished to put before
you Every man who disposes OF par
ticle Of time will understand to what
extent he can profit by these reflections
on the eleventh Copyright, lsoS'
by Mcclure, Phillips and Company.)
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