Labeled and Put Away by Adelaide D. Wellman

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 9, 1915

Labeled and Put Away

By Adelaide D. Wellman

MUCH time is spent, by unmethodical persons, in overhauling and examining repeatedly articles that clutter desk, drawers, et cetera.

Of course, any one of orderly habits avoids that annoying waste of time and energy by keeping his possessions segregated, assigning each to its particular pigeon hole or drawer, or labeling it and storing it away in chest or on shelf.

The shelving process is to be commended not only as a means of disposing of materials seldom needed, but also, in a figurative sense, for disposing of questions that otherwise might annoy and embarrass and hinder by arising repeatedly for consideration.

An American whose name is honored in many countries, was compelled to settle once for all—that is, to “lay on the shelf”—the question of accepting treats, because so long as he used liquors at all, refusal to drink with an acquaintance was likely to give offense, while to accept all such invitations would often result in intoxication. Happily, he decided upon an invariable reply which no one could interpret as a slight—“I never take stimulants.”

Another troublesome question to which an unvarying negative can well be given, pertains to attendance at theaters, of any and all classes. A person who fluctuates between inclination to go and scruples against going, is in a state as undesirable as that of the receptacle that has been rummaged again and again for misplaced articles. Be thoroughgoing enough to put that question emphatically aside, plainly labeled NO.

The same shelf will serve for many other forms of amusement. Intellectual beings can find sufficient pleasure and recreation that is in no degree dangerous to morals, health, mentality, or even finances.

Still another question that should be put out of the way with finality, is that of reading fiction.

In fact, most of these questions might fittingly be stamped with skull and crossbones, and the familiar warning, “Danger! Poison!”

Some questions that are always kept on an opposite shelf by dependable people, relate to fidelity in fulfilling promises, and promptness in paying bills. This necessitates forethought, both in guarding against incurring obligations that one may not be able to meet, and in providing for meeting such as have been assumed.

Another question that should not often require

consideration, pertains to attendance at church services, including Sabbath school and prayer meetings. But if the enemy of all righteousness finds that a slight indisposition, or any other trivial excuse, will suffice to make one reconsider the advisability of attending, he straightway commissions some of his agents to provide the excuse.

Paul wisely put one subject beyond controversy when he said, “This one thing I do.” And with equal decision he averred, in reference to another matter, that he would not do that again “while the world standeth.”

It has been declared that Christ was never tempted a second time on any point, because every temptation that came to Him, He met fully and finally.

Truly, that is businesslike.

ADELAIDE D. WELLMAN.