FOUR HOURS TOO LATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 45

FOUR HOURS TOO LATE.

" Oh, God! if I could recall the past three or four hours. See what trouble a man may hriny upon himself all in a moment." Mr James Curtis and Mr C. S. Bennett, both of San Francisco, had been intimate friends for years. Last summer they quarrelled for the first time, each acousing the other of wrong. Better^ thoughts prevailed, and they were reconciled. But you can't undo what is once done. Memory kept the record on her slate. They avoided each other as much as possible. Still, living as neighbours^ men must meet some time. These two met in the street. The quarrel was renewed. Bitter words flew faßfc and thick, and Curtis, beßide himself with rage, drew his pistol and shot Bennett dead on the spot. Later in the day he used the above language— so laden with self-reproach and sorrow. Yet how useless, how hopeless, how vain. But was Curtis right in saying that trouble may come all in a moment P True, it often seems so, but is there not a deeper fact which we don't see ? It matters nothing what tho nature of the trouble is. Therefore let ua consider a different case on the 'same principle. •An intelligent woman says: — "In October 1890 I had an attack of illness from which I never expected to recover. I had aching pains all over me and a cough that nearly shook me to pieces. I obtained no good sleep night or day, and had to take to my bed. I wag fed with liquid food from an invalid's cup, for I oould nofc raise myself in bed. My heart fluttered so you could hear it beat on the pillow, and often pains struck through ib as though somebody had stabbed me. I lay perfectly helpless and oould scarcely breathe. A doctor attended me over a month, but I grew weaker and weaker. Some* times at night I was so bad he feared I would not live till morning. He called in a consulting physician, and both agreed that my condition was critical. I was fed with brandy to keep me alive. My husband and daughter stayed with me almost constantly. None of the medicines administered had any efifect. I was almost at> death's door. ■► " At this tira.e Mrs Keeling, of Muttey, near Ply* mouth, a friend of mine, urged me to try a medicine called Mother Seigel's Curative Syrup. I procured a bottle, and atter a few days I was able to take and digest sufficient food to give me some strength, and the worst symptoms were greatly abated. After having used six bottles of the Syrup my health was completely restored, and I have since felt better thanfav the previous 3.0, i£ears. My two daughters have also been cured of indigestion by it, I wili gladly answer any inquiries." (Signed) Mrs Louise Jackson, Builders* Arms Hotel, Bridge Road, Hammersmith, London, Jauuary 14, 1892. In tho letter from which the above is en extract, Mrs Jackson further says that fay over 20 years before the attack of October 1890 she had suffered from a disordered stomach and liver. She had a bad taste in the mouth, a poor appetite, and what libtle ohe ate gave her pain. She felt dull, languid, and tired, and had a miserable sinking feeling in the stomaoh, great pain in the chest and sides, palpitation, giddiness, and frequently fell in the street and had to htt assisted home.

So we perceive that in her ease a cause, long in operation, at l&at produced the crisis which came near ending her life. It is always thus, whether we recognise the cause or not. The crime committed by Curtis was the sudden passionate act of a man who allowed thoughts of hate and vengeance to take possession of hia mind and breed the condition which made murder possible. In the very different case of this ladj 'b illness it was an enemy of her body, indigestion aud dyspepsia, which at length broke oub inbo violence.

Tha-lesson is the same. Watoh the beginning of evil and check it while yet it may be easily controlled.

— Inquiring Obild : " Papa, why do people cry at weddings?" Papa (abstractedly): "Most of 'em have been married themselves." — Apt. — A teacher was explaining to a little girl hdw the trees developed their foliage in the spring time. " Ah, yes," said the wee miss, " I understand j they keep theix summer clothes in their trunks,"