Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1853-11-25


, slept last night, after what heard, witho,
, just sending them bushel Of coal and
: basket of provisions"
Il" For which l honor your kindness
heart, Mr.. Jonas. So far you have acte
, right. But, l am by no means so we
assured of the wisdom and humanity {
; your present action in the case The tru
way to help the poor, is to put it into thei
power to help themselves. The mere b.
stowal of aims, is in most cases, an injury
either encouraging idleness and vice, o
weakening self-respect and virtuous sell
dependence. There is innate strength il
every one let US seek to develop thi
strength in the PROSTATE rather than hol'
them up by temporary application of GU
own powers, to fall again inevitably, whe'
the sustaining hand is removed. This
depend upon it, is not true benevolence
Every one has ability to serve the common
good, and society renders back sustenanc'
for bodily life as the reward Of this ser
vice"
"Bnt suppose man cannot get work, ,
said Mr.. Jonas. How is he to serve so
ciety, for sake Of a reward?"
"True charity will find employment fol
him, rather than bestow aims"
But if there is no employment to BE-
had, Mr.. Prescott
You make very extreme case. For
all who are willing to work, in this country,
there is employment"
az am by no means ready to admit this
assertion"
"Well, we'll not deal in general pro-
positions, because anything can be assumed
or denied Let US come direct to the case
in point, and thus determine our duty to-
wards the family whose needs We are con-
sidering. Which will be the best for
them? To help them in the way you pro-
pose, or to encourage them to help them
selves?"
"All know about them at present."
replied Mr.. Jonas, who was beginning to
feel considerably worried, ais, that they
are suffering for the common necessaries
Of life. 1t is all very we'll to tell man
to help himself, but, if his arm is paraly-
- .; t. - ~ hn- -, .hc, --o-;.;c-
shop, he will soon starve under that system
of benevolence Feed and clothc a man
first, and then set him to work to help
himself. He will have life in his heart
and strength in his hand"
"This sounds all very fair, Mr.. Jonas
and yet there is not so much true charity
involved there, as appears On the surface.
1t will avail little, however, for us to de-
bate the matter now. Your time and mine
are both of two much value during bust
ness hours for useless discussion. l can
not give uuderstandingly, in the present
case, and so must disappoint your expecta
tions in this quarter"
"Good morning them" said Mr.. Jonas,
bowling rather coldly."
"Good morning." pleasantly responded
Mr.. Prescott, as his visitor turned and left
his store.
"All a mean excuse for not giving"
said Mr.. Jonas, to himself, as he walked
rather hurriedly away. 81 don't believe
much in the benevolence Of your men who
are SO particular about the why's and
$50 afraid to give dollar to
, poor, starving fellow-creature, lest the
lct encourages vice or idleness."
The next person upon whom Mr.. Jonas
,alled, happened to be very much Of Mr.,
Prescott's way of thinking; and the next
happened to know something about the
amily for whom he was soliciting aid.
"A lazy, vagabond set"' exclaimed the
when Mr. Jonas mentioned his
.rrand, "who would rather want than
work. They may starve before I give them
shilling"
"Is this true?" asked Mr.. Jonas, in
surprise.
Certainly it is. I have had their case
stated before. In fact, went throug gh
he sleet and rain one bitter cold night to
axe them provisions, so strongly had my
ympathies in regard to them been excited.
Let them 60 to work."
"But can the man get work." inquired
|Ir. Jonas.
"Other poor men, who have families
dependent on them, can get work. Where
here's a will there's way. Downright
aziness is the disease in this case, and the
vest cure for which is little wholesome
So, take my advice, and leave
his excellent remedy to work out cure"
Mr.. Jonas went back to his store in ra-
her q vexcd state of mird. All his fine
ceilings of benevolence were stifed. He
'as angry with the INDECENT family, angry
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