Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-02-28
From The Flag of Our Union.
THE TRUANT SON;
EDS OF OHARITY.
BY LUCY LISwOOD.

suspension in the ceaseless travel in the
busy streets Of Boston and all being in
tent upon their own bu mess, no one mott
ced the old man Who tottered along through
the crowd and entered the book store on
the corner Of - Street.
After purchasing penny paper, he as
sumed the privilege of occupying vacant
seat at the stove, while he refreshed his
mind with the news of the day. The pro-
prletor Of the establishment, after waiting
on his customer. took no farther notice of
Linn, and resumed his business at the desk.
a few moments elapsed, and little girl
very Shabbily and scautlly dressed entered
and solicited Inns. saying Iha! her mother
was sick, her father could get no work. and
that nine children were at home starving.
The old man raised his eyes from the
paper, and his spectacles from his eyes. un-
der which he gave her a very inqni i've
look, but said nothing. The proprietor,
MIR. DoIby,-who we can describe only as
mlddle-a5ed man, of ordinary appearance
with no pecuIlarities, save frank, open
c"unlenancc, and prominent organ of ge-
nerOslty,-without questioning the claims
OF his young visitor farther, drew from his
pocket handful Of change, which she le
celved with many thanks, and apparently
wi Ii real gratitude. The old man kept his
eye on her, and as soon as she closed the
door he turned to Mr.. Dolby with know
ing look:
Did you ever hear one of them beggars
tell any other story ?" said he
''Ah, there is wrctchcdness in this CITY
which we k2ow little of, SIR" was the re
ply.
"Bnt do you know who YOU are giving
money to, my friend - continued the old
gentleman.
IL only know that The Child belongs to a
very poor family" answered Mr.. Dolby.
"Shc belongs to a very BAD family, sir
The father has been in the State Prison.
aud he never ought to have been out. The
mother is " lazy dronc, and keeps her girls
out begging and her boys >ge"Iing. That
is the way they get Their living. Do you
think it right to give TO such people p
Yes. sir. aud wish Lhad million Of
dollars to give to such poor people 90
Then you would encourage vice ?"
"NOt al ull. | would discourage vice;
and | believe the best way to do it is to i'm
"Ha,-and that is where you and dil-
fer. "m wiIling To help The poor, but
they must first be honest, and behave
themselves. That is what call charity"
"What DO you conceive the principal
object of dishonest people to Ec?"
"TO gain without labor, Of course"
"ro gain something to be app opriated
TO the comfort or pleasure Of the iudividu-
aI?"
Yes"
"Then if nothing was absolutely neces-
sary for the comfort and happiness Of the
creature, there would be no iuducrment for
dishonesty, Of COURSE
20, do not go 20 far as that. Some love
to steal. and some rather beg ;han work. "
"lfthey were properly educate |. 40 you
not think that they would naturally prefer
honest labor to either?'
20, don't know. have no sympA-
thy for thieves, and va5tants, and beSgars.
| am willing to assist the worthy poor, but
it is no mans duty to give hi, money to
those who would rob him the moment his
back is turned upon them"
"l look upon crime in q different light,
>ir. 1t is not strange that che unfortunate
often become degraded. Where they ask
bread they get stone. When they need
II helping hand they receive kick, and
hey are virtually taught by their betters,
what they often seem to prove themselves
that they belong more to the animal
than the human kinsdo.n."
There may be faults in the order of
society, but l do not believe that gift OF
charity ever made Il bad person better"
"We}l. sir, do. And know of one
case. at least, in my own experience,
which, we've il not for the long story which
goes with it, should like 10 prove to you
that there are exceptions to your rule"
Never mind the length of the story. sir.
Ny time is my own. and as the weather is
stormy you will not be Ovcrrun with custo>
mers. Suppose you take seat and amuse
an idle stranger for whiie."
"Agreed," said Mr.. Dolby. "When
come across man like you and find II
good many such. | feel an irresistible
empIaIIon to make war with him.
"'rhe circumstance l allude to, which
will illustrate my ideas. is cnncerninE :.
lad whose acquaintance | made early in
life and eau Touch for the truth of all
l shall say.
"The boy left his fathers house at the
early age OF ten years. He was a self
wiIIed child and his father. not understan-
ding his real character, was too harsh in his
treatment toward him, and in rash mo
ment he abandoned the parental roof.
never to return. They resided in England,
and the boy, Jim, secured himself \ pas
age across the Atlantic. serving as cabin
boy in sailing vessel. and came to Anne
RIGA. His mother died when he was an in
fant, which accounts somewhat for the
early depravity Of the child, having been
I.Drivud Of Iha in StructiuD on1 ,roo1 o,,,,,,