The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1855-01-18
WHOLE No 1879
Whnt or Appearnncesl

That family, said friend Of ours who
called 10 visit family which We had Told
him we're sadly in wan, ''.hat family do
not look so poor--I never should have
thought Of Offering charity 10 Il en-. /
never viii Judge again by Appearances"
That is right; that is just what we de-
sire to impress upon our readers. The
vast suffering is TO be found where appear
ances do not indicate want. Such was the
case with the family in question. A wo-
man with six little children, from four to
fourteen, father mother and children all
born in this city, knowing no other home,
and always dependant upon tie exertions
Of the husban and father; when he was
taken away how could they live, as they
always had done, in com Tor able circum-
stances, in a good house, with abundance
Of home comforts, wearing good clothes,
which, without renewed, sDoaH wear ont?
Yet, by the closest economy. and uniiring
industry, they have lived-the pawnbrok-
er furnished part Of the means-unlil now,
a year from The fat er's death, without
making known their extreme want-still
striving TO keep up appearances, with
only one good bonnet for four heads--un-
I'll now, at this inclement season, out of food
and fuel ;out Of money; out of anything
more to pawn; and above all, out Of wor%
how must that mother have looked upon
her family, in whose faces starvation was
staring? Aud yet she could not beg
Even to her most intimate acquaintance,
she hid her woes and want. Relatives,
able TO assist them. they have none in tie
city. Only by accident one of their friends
fouPd out their destitutior, and made it
known to Us. Yet they "do not look so
poor" and others would think as our
friends did, 81 never should have thought
Of Offering charity TO them"
Now, reader, look about you and see if
you cannot find some one who docs not
look so poor, WHO is really in want. Not,
perhaps, in want Of charity, but assistance
10 get through the present 'pinching time
1 Offer such little loan. Give them work.
Go security for rent, so that they shall not
be turned out doors by hard landlord
Take into your own family to feed through
the winter, one mouth out of family Il at
have bu little bread, and have not tasted
m aat for months.
Do not try to calm yonr conscience by
giving dime to a beggar. That is not
charity. 1t is ofno use to give money to
such as go through the streets upon a daily
round, turning up eyes trained to the busi-
ness of begging for 'one cent Charity
consists in helping those that will help
themselves; in seeking cut proper objects
of benevolence; in lifting up those who
have been trodden down by fate, and not
sunk to beggary by crime.
What OF appearances? You cannot
judge-or you may Judge wrongly. There
is a great number of families. such as the
one We have noticed, greatly in need of a
little assistance, who do not appear like
beggars-who do not look SO poor'-yet
to whom a few dollars now would save
, from utter degradation. Think of the temp
tatlons in the way Of the starving poor, par
ticularly of the numerous class of poor sew
, ing girls, out of work. and open your heart
and hands; take care that by your neglect
You are not the means of their fall.
Judge not by appearances: Be chari.
able. Do gool.-N y Tribune.