Procrastination
The steamship Central America, on a voyage from New York to San Francisco, sprung a leak in mid-ocean. A vessel, seeing her signal of distress, bore down toward her. Perceiving the danger to be imminent, the captain of the rescue ship spoke to the Central America, asking, “What is amiss?”
“We are in bad repair and going down; lie by till morning,” was the answer.
“Let me take your passengers on board now.”
But, as it was night, the commander of the Central America did not like to send his passengers away lest some might be lost, and, thinking that they could keep afloat awhile longer, replied: “Lie by till morning.”
Once again the captain of the rescue ship called: “You had better let me take them now.”
“Lie by till morning,” was sounded back through the trumpet.
About an hour and a half later her lights were missed, and, though no sound was heard, the Central America had gone down, and all on board perished, because it was thought they could be saved better at another time.
“We are in bad repair and going down; lie by till morning,” was the answer.
“Let me take your passengers on board now.”
But, as it was night, the commander of the Central America did not like to send his passengers away lest some might be lost, and, thinking that they could keep afloat awhile longer, replied: “Lie by till morning.”
Once again the captain of the rescue ship called: “You had better let me take them now.”
“Lie by till morning,” was sounded back through the trumpet.
About an hour and a half later her lights were missed, and, though no sound was heard, the Central America had gone down, and all on board perished, because it was thought they could be saved better at another time.