ALMOST CAUGHT 399

 What sad disappointments has it caused for hours, for the next train. One min-
 How many children, and older persons, ute sooner, and you might have been on
 too, have missed, or in some way failed to board, perhaps to reach a dying friend
 obtain, some desired object, which was and hear his last words. Who can tell
 almost within their grasp The proverb what consequences will follow that one
 says, "There is many a slip between the moment too late ?
 cup and the lip; and many have found What is it almost to reach the wharf,
 it so. It was only an almost that pre- as one returns from a foreign voyage to
 vented Aleck from catching his rabbit. greet again the loved ones at home, but
 But that almost did just as really prevent to be wrecked and lost in the harbor, in
 it, as if he had been rods and rods the very sight of that home ?
 away. The poor boy probably felt much What is it for the man-slayer almost
 more disappointed in his failure, than he to reach a city of refuge, but to be over-
 would if he had not so nearly reached taken by the avenger of blood and be
 his object. We always feel the loss of stricken down at its very gate.
 any thing we have almost attained, more A small vessel was nearing the shores
 than we do of what is much farther from of the Bristol Channel in a storm, and
 our reach. was in imminent danger of being dashed
 "A bird in the hand is worth two in upon the rocks. Every one seemed to
the bush," is another proverb. And so have lost all hope, and expected every
Aleck would say, in regard to the object moment that the ship would strike and
of his pursuit: "a rabbit in the hand is founder. The captain stood on deck, his
worth two in the bush." The rabbit watch in his hand, and his eye fixed on it.
could say, though Aleck could not, "a Suddenly he cried out, as he glanced
miss is as good as a mile." Almost to across the water, Thank God, we are
be caught is to escape. saved-the tide has turned; in one min-
 Aleck found the truth of another say- ute more we should have been on the
ing: "We mustn't count the chickens rocks!" They were almost lost. Both
before they are hatched." He was cer- captain and crew felt then, as perhaps
tain of his rabbit, but he counted his they never felt before, the value of a min-
chickens too soon. ute and the meaning of the little word
 The more we think of that little word almost.
almost, the more important it seems. A condemned man was being led out
What is it almost to get to school in sea- for execution. He had taken human life,
son, but to be late and get a mark of but under circumstances of the greatest
tardiness ? provocation. Thousands had signed a
 What is it almost to reach the railroad petition for a reprieve; still none had ar-
station in season, but to see the train rived. The last moment was up. The
start and leave you to wait, perhaps prisoner took his place on the drop, it
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