Going to Press by I. N. Carman

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 31, 1877

Going to Press.

By I. N. Carman

[WM. A. JONES, foreman of the composing-room of the New Orleans Times, died some time since. Just before his death he became conscious for a moment, and in that gleam, dwelling upon the habit of his life, he suddenly exclaimed: “The ads. are all right, Sherman, lock up the forms and let’s go to press.”]

Fellow-man, a moment linger On the dying printer’s speech; For it bears a weighty lesson, Our unheeding hearts to teach.

Day by day thou art composing What a universe shall read; Type to type art ceaseless setting, As thou addest deed to deed.

Ah, how surely life’s full columns, When the hand that set them lies Fixed in an unbroken stillness, Their composer advertise.

Soon the forms are locked forever, Changeless shall th’ impression be; Scan thy proofs in time, O printer; Thou art near eternity.

Are the “ads.” all right, composer? Art thou standing justified? Ready now for the great Judgment, Its unfoldings to abide?

So shalt thou, as night advances, Greet th’ unstaying Pressman’s call; Then await the morn eternal, Publishing thy life to all.

—REV. I. N. CARMAN, in Christian Standard.