A touching story is told of the late Prince Napoleon. He had joined the English army, and was one day at the head of a squad, riding horseback outside the camp. It was a dangerous situation. One of the company said:
"We had better return. If we don't hasten, we may fall into the hands of the enemy."
"O," said the Prince, "let us stay here ten minutes and drink our coffee!"
Before the ten minutes had passed, a company of Zulus came upon them, and in the skirmish the prince lost his life. His mother, when informed of the facts, in her anguish said:
"That was his greatest mistake from babyhood. He never wanted to go to bed at night in time, nor rise in the morning. He was ever pleading for ten minutes more. When too sleepy to speak, he would lift up his two little hands and spread out ten fingers, indicating that he wanted ten minutes more. On this account I sometimes called him 'Mr. Ten Minutes.'"
How many have lost not only their lives, but their souls, by this sin of procrastination! When God calls, we should promptly obey.—Episcopal Recorder.