Southern telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1834-1838, 1837-10-10
mISCELLANEOUS.
THE TEST OF BENEvOLENCE.
A SHORT AND TRUE STORY.

SHORT AND TRUE STORY.
"The hand that wiped away the tear OF want,
The heart that melted at anOther's woe,
Were his, and blessings followed him"
David Wentworth had the kindest of
hearts. There was neither mete nor bound
to his benevolencc, except inability. And
happy was the man who had 1.-THE of the
prayers that were offered up for the welfare
of my friend, by the unfortunate and wretch
ed whom his hand had relieved.
speak of prayers-for it was the only
reward he sought, and Of course the only
reward he obtained; | mean here-but !
forget.
David was paying attention to an excel
lent young lady ofhis native CITY,. She was
wealthy, beautiful, and accomplished, and
consequently had many suitors. Among
them were richer, and nobler lin extraction
| mean,) and handsomer than David, but
n'mporte, there was kind of frank heart
ed, strait-torwardness about my friend, that
could not fail TO carry him near the heart Of
his discerning mistress, even if an Emperor
had been his rival.
The young lady in question hit upon a
DiOlSOl w pun vi hSl A''NiH ~
test. She had come across poor widow
with family in distress, in her benevolent
excursions, and the idea occurred to her
that it would be good opportunity 10 as
certain the stuff that her lovers hearts were
made of. Letters were forthwith indited,
setting forth the good woman's tale, and for
warded to the different gentlemen in the
vpIdpxEJl an nd
assistance.
The first reply was a lecture on idleness
and begging, and concluded with the intor-
nation that the writer was not accustomed
to give TO those he did not know. This was
from $4,000 year! The second advised
her to apply to some of the benevolent so.
ciotics, whose duty it was to relieve those
who were truly in distress. This was from
one who had great reputation for benevo
lence-who had taken leading part in Sc
veral charitable associations, and whose
pharasical liberalty had been blazDned il
the Gazette. The lady thought that, inter
ested as he was in the success of these in
sttulions, he displayed very comnenda
bic reluctance about taking the business Oh
Of their hands. A third, from sood-heart
ed and generous kind of a lellow.-encloseC
a SIS bill with his compliments. Severn
took no notice of,he good woman's petition
But there was another answer which th'
lady read with far different feelings. ltwa
from David-from $500 a year--and. | nee'
not say. like himself, kind and consoling
It spoke of the writer's narrow means, ant
also of the principle he had adopted, ofneve
giving unless persuaded of the worthines
Of the object, and concluded by requesting
an interview. "IG" said he, 81 find myseI
otherwise unable to afford the assistanc
you require, trust | may be of service il
interesting others in your behalf"
Nor was this profession. For it was bu
) a few weeks before the widow found hei
self comfortably located, aud engaged IN
thriving little business, commenced by tn
recommendation and carried on by the ol
of my friend. And all this was done
genuine scripture style. There was
sounding of trumpets--and the rIgiShan
knew not the doings Of the left. But b
= ady-loye was silent observer of his col
duct, and &c received many kind glan'
: from that quarter, of which he little su
c pecled the cause. She began TO think th
If the homage Of a spirit like his was not to
G despised, and she felt very much like a pr
piiation of the heart as she questioned he
self respecting his intentions.
Such was the train Of thought which W