The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1855-10-25
for the helpless poor, is new regarded
- practically solved. Indeed, We be-

for the helpless poor, is new regarded
~ practically solved. Indeed, We be-
lieve that the system by the prosecu-
tion Of which the correctness of this po-
sitiou is so forcibly illustrated, enforced
in the operations of the Five Points
House Of Industry, need only that gen.
erou' support from the public which it
is abundantly able, and we trust willing
to bestow, to enable it to enlarge and
extend its influence until protection,
employment, and support be provided
for all destitute and no justiiable
apology remain for starvation or vice in
our free and plentiful land
Reader, do you net wish to see such
a happy state Of society brought about,
and will you not lend your aid and inAs-
ence to help accomplish So desirable an
object Will you not help to strength
tn the hands, and nerve and cheer tho
hearts Of those WHO, with violence 70
every natural sensibility, and at the sac!
ri6ce Of almost every earthly comfort
and qualification but the satisfaction of
doing good, are toiliug on in the most
abandoned, repulsive, dangerous, and
difficult Of all fields Of benevoence on
Gop's earth : Will you not impart of
your substance according to your ability
to help feed the hungry, c!othe the
naked, protect tho detenc less, and
shelter the homeless child of want -
Winter, cold aud piuching, that season
no chcerless and fraught with suffering
to the poor, is now fast approaching =
and in view of past experience, aud
present prospects, we look forward with
fearful torebodings to its rigorous and
pItiless reign over the helpless and
homeless victims Of misfortune and
penury.
o! could you remain but for one
hsur in the House Of Industry on a cold
and stormy winter day, and there wit
ness that ever-changiug throng of hun
dreds Of wrotcbcd human beings, who
have come thither to pour cut their sor-
rows and hoart-randing tales Of destitu-
ton, wrctchednsss and wrong; pitifsily
implering relief and protection could
you there witness that little child with
It's bare feet from the icy pavement, asd
its cold-stiffcned and shivering body,
scarcely half covered with its filthy rags:
there witness that young heart broken
female, once a. innocent, and happy,
and beloved, as the companion. sister or
daughter that you love 80 fondly, now
sunk in poverty, shame, and despair BY
the depravity and treaehery Of man -
there witness that mother with stream
ing eyes, poverty y-sharpeued features,
aud woc-be-gone spirit: her frail iafant
clinging to her own scautily clad shiver-
ing form, its tender body chilled With
the piercing breath of winter there
witness that aged man, that aged
woman tottering with years and weak
moss from privations with grief-stricken
heart, and care-furrowed cheeks, and
sorrow .sunken eyes that have wept their
fountain dry, and no tears left through
which to assuage their grief we say
could you witnes, this scene but for one
hour, our plea would then bo useless
You would then have more urgent and
impressive appeal than could ever issue
fom the pen or tongue of mortals.
We have no interest to serve in this ap-
peal but that OF the cause Of GoD and
suffering humanity and in this sacred
name, in view Of all this misery, and
your ability to help remove it, in view
Of your accountability to HIM who has
said" it is more blessed to give than
to receive -" freely have ye received,
! freely give -" iuasmuch as yc did it
not to one Of the least Of these, ye did
not to me I've now ask-,rW you re-
spond to this plea, our first and probably
last for your aid in behalf of this cause ,
weak and insufficient though it be 1t
is by such deeds of benevolence and hu-
manity that We may realize the truth Of
that noble sentiment, that the wealth
of man is the number OF things which
he lores and blesses, ,ehich he is iored and
blessed by." J.P.B.
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