Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-04-03
TRUE PHILANTHROPY.

TRUE PHILANTHROPY.
The following paragraphs are taken from
a letter Of L. Maria Child to the Boston Cour-
lei:
Last Summer, as | walked out on the
Third Avenue, | often saw a laboring man
watering a vine at his door, which almost
touched the pavement, and was continually
covered with dust. "Thou poor SOUL"
thought /, d" how hard thou art trying to keep
a few flowers in thy cramped and stiaed ex-
istence-and thou, myself art a bud that can
not blossom for want of sunshine and dew"
As | walked homeward the laborer and his
unhappy looking morning glory set in motion
a crowd of thoughts concerning men and cit
les, labor and capital, and the foundation of
our present social structure. Feeling how
all our morning glories are trailed in the dust,
and browsed by passing cattle | thought, for
the thousandth time, "Would that | did not
see below the surface Of things, or that |
could see deep enough to find the right foun-
daiion."
But while this is not granted, / cheer my
heart with wayside manifestations Of mans
capacity for renovation. The Prison Asso-
citation, which | have mentioned in previous
letters, more than realizes the hopes of be-
levers in the law of kindness. Nine out Of
ten of the released inmates Of Sing Sing, who
have been assisted by the association, are do
ing extremely well, and evince a very CRATE
fml disposition. 1t is a painful fact that mo-
mentary recklessness is often punished as Sc
veroIy as deliberate crime.
A young Englishman left his native land,
where a pampered church and nobility drive
out honest working-men from a soil they gain
ed by conquest, and still keep by the law of
tnrf.n hn nnp mr. In tht, ~o,.tr, e. ,nl1,
ment, and found every corner crowded. lie
was honest and Industrious, but very timid,
and easily depressed. When his money was
gone, and he could obtain no work-in an
evil hour of distress and Encouragement, he
was tempted to hire a wagon with the view
of selling it, and pocketing the proceeds
He drove on desperately, far away from the
city; but he was unused to knavish tricks,
and conscience would not allow him TO offer
the horse and wagon for sale. Still he could
not muster sufficient courage to go back and
avow his fault. Natural timidity, and expe-
rience of mans harshness made him dread
the task. He was soon sought for and ar
rested. He was advised to plead not guilty,
and was told that an acute lawyer could bring
him safely out of the difficulty. But he an
swered, humbly and s~orrowfully, ~ did no,
mean to sell the horse and wagon and why
should | add to my fault by telling a lie! -
notwithstanding his modest department the
n~nconinoniy honest expression OF his young
ACE and the upright nature implied by this
uec,aration' he was sentenced to three years
az sing sing he served his time out, with
me utrnos, humlll'y and Propr'ety; and when
ne was feieasen' came % the Prison Assocl-
auon 'or ADVICE and assistance. lie gave ev-
cry inuicailon OF a sincere determination to
De a uSe!ul ana honorable man. ihe,y iur-
nisneu nun win c,o'hing, and PAID his board,
un'ii suitable employment could be obtained
iot Nun. NOT long after, he received a lega.
cy OF 1our hundred dollars from a deceased
feia.'e III r'nglahu. re Immediately went
10 'he once OF the Association, repaid all the
money that mad been loaned him, and added
d aohauon OF twenty dollars. Was This a
nature 10 De trampled under the feet OF con-
Slaoies and police officers! Who was most
10 Diame, society OF the young disheartened
Stranger
But let US trust Ill God and take courage
Men are beginning 10 feel and perceive that
human souls are worth more than property
u me extremity OF a dark court close to
one OF the most crowded t~horoughtares OF the
Guy, l often see a bright little sign. "llope