Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-05-18
Better to Work than to Beg.

Let no poor boy, after reading the following
interesting fact, ever despair of making respect,
able living.
A gentleman was once walking down one Of
the streets of P, when beggar loudly
craved "a few coppers for nights lodging"
The gentleman looked earnestly at the poor man,
and inquired:
why do you not work? You should be
ashamed of begging"
"Oh, sir, l do not know where to get employ
ment."
Nonsense" replied the gentleman, "you can
work if you will. Now listen to me. l was
once beggar like you. A gentleman gave me
a crown piece, and said to me, Work and do
not beg; God helps those who help themselves.
| at once left P, and got out Of the way
of my old companions. l remembered the ad-
vice given me bv my mother before she died.
and l began to pray to God to keep me from sin,
and to give me his help day by day. I went
round to the houses in the country places, and
with part of my FIVE shillings bought old rags.
These took to the paper mills and sold at a
profit.
l was willing to give fair price for the things
l bought, and did not try to sell them for more
than | believed they were worth. determined
to be honest, and God prospered me. My pur-
chases and profits became larger and larger; aud
now | have got more than ten thousand crown
pieces that can call my own. On. great thing
that has contributed to my success is this, have
kept from strong drink and tobacco.
As the gentleman spoke, he took out his
purse and drew from it a crown piece, and hand
ing it to the astonished beggar, he said, "Now
you have the same chance Of getting on in the
world that had. Go and work, and never let
me see you begging again If l do, will
hand you over to the police"
Years passed away. The gentleman had for
able looking booksellers shop, n ordet TO Pur
chase some books that he wanted.
He had not been many minutes in converse
tiou with the book seller, before the latter, ca
gery looking into the face cf his customer, inqui-
red, "Sir, are not YOU the gentleman, who, seve-
raj years ago, gave five shilling piece to poor
bcggar at the end of the street."
"ies, remember it we'll"
"Then, sir this house, this well-stocked shop,
are the fruits of that five shilling piece"
Tears of gratitude trckled down his cheeks as
nc lutrouuCeu Ie SellieiLau W LILO haPPy WHO
and children. He was regarded as their bene-
factor. When gathered round the table to par
take of cup Of tea, the bookseller recounted
his history from the above eventful day. 1t was
very similar to that of the welcome visitor.
BY industry, honesty, and dependence on Gods
help, he had risen step by step, from buying rags
to selling papers and tracts in the street, then
keeping an old book-shop, and ultimately to be
the owner of one of the best circulating libra
ries in the place. Before the happy party sepa-
rated the large family Bible was taken down, out
of which psalm of thanksgiving was read, and
then all bent round the family altar. Words
could not express the feelings of those who
formed that group. For some moments silence
intermingled with sobs, evinced the gratitude
to the Almighty Disposer Of human events
which was ascendir & to heaven.
When they rose and bade each other farewell,
the bookseller said, "Thank God, have found
your words to be true. God helps those who
help themselves 1T is better to work than to
beg
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