Herald Of The Times

"I HAVE NOT TIME."

There is perhaps no excuse which is so frequently urged in palliation of a neglect of duty as the short sentence which constitutes the caption to this article. It is brought forward by all classes of people, on all occasions, and is not unfrequently considered a valid excuse—as if a person who manifests even a modicum of judgment, method or industry, in the ordinary transactions of life, had not time in abundance to do, any thing, and to do it well too, which circumstances may require.

If a person fails to keep an appointment either of business or pleasure, and is half an hour behind the stated time, the excuse always offered with unblushing boldness is, "I have so much to do; and so little time, that I declare it was impossible for me to be punctual to my appointment."

If a friend promises to execute some trifling service and neglects to do it, when reminded of his remissness, he almost always shelters himself behind the hackneyed excuse "I had not time."

If a lady defers returning the call of a friend beyond the time which even the utmost limits of fashion will permit, when reminded of her negligence, a sufficient excuse is always ready—she "had not time."

If a mother neglect her children, and suffer them to wander through the streets with ragged clothes, hair uncombed, and face unwashed; she is exceedingly sorry, that "she had not time to attend to the dear little things as she could wish."

If a mother is deficient in a still more important duty, and neglects to attend to the moral and religious instruction of her children—she affects to regret it exceedingly—but she must trust altogether to Providence for their standing and happiness in society, for she really has no time to attend to it.

And this excuse is often made by the merchant, the lawyer, and the physician, and the clergyman, for neglecting some important social or moral duty. It is, however, an excuse of a frivolous nature, and one which should never be urged by a sensible man—it is tantamount to acknowledgement of idleness, negligence, or incapacity, and under any circumstances, will create impressions highly unfavorable to the individual. It is well known that those individuals who have accomplished most for the benefit of mankind, or for the advancement of their own reputation, never complained of want of time.—[Bost. Journal.