Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/138

 4. Again, who  deems  himself  more  safe from death  than  a  merry  young  person  at  a dance? Yet it  has  happened  more  than  once, that such  a  one  has  suddenly  expired,  the excitement of  dancing  having  brought  on  an apoplectic  attack.

I remember  reading  some  years  ago  of  a young  girl,  eighteen  years  old,  who  returned home late  at  night  from  a  dance,  went  to  bed, and was  found  dead  the  next  morning!

5. Uncertain  as  it  is  "when"  we  shall die, it  is  equally  uncertain  "where"  we  shall die. Shall you  die  in  a  sick-bed,  fortified with all  the  last  rites  of  Holy  Church;  or will  death  surprise  you  while  you  are  asleep, or when  you  are  walking  out;  in  your  own room, or  in  some  strange  place;  while  you are at  work,  or  when  you  are  engaged  in animated  conversation;  in  a  saloon  or  dancing-hall;  on  the  water  or  on  land;  when  you are on  foot,  or  in  a  railway  coach,  and  so  on? One might  go  on  forever  with  a  string  of  such questions as  these;  but  what  man  or  angel could answer  them?

It may  not  be  pleasant  to  consider  all  these uncertainties; but  for  this  very  reason  reflect upon them,  since  it  is  profitable  for  salvation.

6. But  the  "when"  and  "where"  of  your death is  comparatively  of  very  slight  importance. Your eternity  depends  solely  and wholly upon  the  question  of  "hour"  you  will die, whether  in  the  grace  of  God,  or  in  mortal sin.