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BEHIND TIME.

FREEMAN HUNT.

FREEMAN HUNT (1804-1858) was born at Quincy, Massachusetts; died at Brooklyn, New York. He was the founder of Hunt's Merchants' Magazine.

A railroad train was rushing along at almost lightning speed. A curve was just ahead, beyond which was a station, at which two trains usually met. The conductor was late, so late that the period during which the up-train was to wait had nearly elapsed; but he hoped yet to pass the curve safely. Suddenly a locomotive dashed into sight right ahead. In an instant there was a collision. A shriek, a shock, and fifty souls were in eternity; and all because an engineer had been behind time!

A great battle was going on. Column after column had been precipitated, for eight hours, on the enemy posted on the ridge of a hill. The summer sun was sinking to the west; re-enforcements for the obstinate defenders were already in sight. It was necessary to carry the position with one final charge, or everything would be lost. A powerful corps had been summoned from across the country, and if it came in season, all would yet be right. The great conqueror, confident of its arrival, formed his reserve into an attacking column, and led them down the hill. The world knows the result. Grouchy failed to appear; the Imperial Guard was beaten back; Waterloo was lost; Napoleon died a prisoner at Saint Helena, because one of his marshals was behind time.

A leading firm in commercial circles had long struggled against bankruptcy. As it had large sums of money in California, it expected remittances by a certain day; and if they arrived, its credit, its honor, and its future prosperity would be preserved. But week after week elapsed without bringing the gold. At last came the fatal day on which the firm was to meet bills which had been maturing to enormous amounts. The steamer was telegraphed at daybreak; but it was found, on inquiry, that she brought no funds, and the house failed. The next arrival brought nearly half a million to the insolvents, but it was too late; they were ruined because their agent, in remitting the money, had been behind time.

A condemned man was led out for execution. He had taken human life, but under circumstances of the greatest provocation, and public sympathy was active in his behalf. Thousands had signed petitions for a reprieve; a favorable answer had been expected the night before, and though it had not come, even the sheriff felt that it would yet arrive. Thus the morning passed without the appearance of the messenger. The last moment was up. The prisoner took his place on the drop, the cap was drawn over his eyes, the bolt was drawn, and a lifeless body hung suspended in the air. Just at that moment a horseman came into sight, galloping down the hill, his steed covered with foam. He carried a packet in his right hand, which he waved frantically to the crowd. He was the express rider with the reprieve; but he came too late. A comparatively innocent man had died an ignominious death because a watch

had been five minutes slow, making its bearer arrive behind time.

It is continually so in life. The best laid plans, the most important affairs, the fortunes of individuals, the weal of nations, honor, happiness, life itself, are daily sacrificed because somebody is "behind time." There are men who always fail in whatever they undertake, simply because they are "behind time." There are others who put off reformation year by year, till death seizes them, and they perish unrepentant, because forever "behind time."

Five minutes, in a crisis, is worth years. It is but a little period, yet it has often saved a fortune, or redeemed a people. If there is one virtue that should be cultivated more than another, it is punctuality; if there is one error that should be avoided, it is being "behind time."

Grouchy, de (deh groo she'), Emmanuel, Marquis: a French general. Waterloo (Wa ter loo). Ig no min'i oūs: marked as a public disgrace, shameful. În solvent: not solvent; not enough to pay one's debts. Prẻ cip i tate to urge or press on with eager haste. Prov ō ca'tion (shun) that which provokes or excites anger. Punc'tū al: at a regular or appointed time. Punc tu ǎl'i ty: the state of being punctual. Weal: welfare.

If it were always rain,

The flowers would be drowned.

If it were always sun,

No flowers would be found.

A LITTLE BROWN SEED IN THE FURROW.

IDA W. BENHAM.

A little brown seed in the furrow

Lay still in its gloomy bed,
While violets blue and lilies white
Were whispering overhead.

They whispered of glories strange and rare,
Of glittering dew and floating air,
Of beauty and rapture everywhere,
And the seed heard all they said.

Poor little brown seed in the furrow;
So close to the lilies' feet,
So far away from the great glad day,
Where life seemed all complete!

In her heart she treasured every word,

And she longed for the blessings of which she heard;
For the light that shone and the air that stirred,
In that land so wondrous sweet.

The little brown seed in the furrow

Was thrilled with a strange unrest;

A warm new life lay tremblingly

In the tiny, heaving breast;

With her two small hands clasped close in prayer,
She lifted them up in the darkness there,
Up, up, through the dark, toward sun and air,
Her folded hands she pressed.

O, little brown seed in the furrow,
At last you have pierced the mold;
And quivering with a life intense,
Your beautiful leaves unfold

Like wings outspread for upward flight;
And slowly, slowly, in dew and light

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I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility. I do not mean by humility doubt of his own power, or hesitation of speaking his opinions; but a right understanding of the relation between what he can do and say and the rest of the world's sayings and doings. All great men not only know their business, but usually know that they know it. They are not only right in their main opinions, but they usually know that they are right in them, only they do not think much of themselves on that account. They do not expect their fellow-men to fall down and worship them. They feel that the greatness is not in them but through them; that they could not do or be anything else than God made them.

From "Modern Painters" by Ruskin.

"A soft answer turneth away wrath."

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