Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-07-10
w hich is Right?

/ Y Friend of Man complains that, as
he was walking rapidly to dine with a friend
the other afternoon, he saw a poor old wo-
man sitting upon n doorstep, and benz
nearly double with age and infirmity. A
Friend of Man. who, we learn by pri-
vate note in his communication, is no 9TH
er than our old and valued friend Howard
"llberforce, says that he stopped in com
miseration and gave the poor old woman a
sixpencc. His conscience would not lei
him pass eoolly by.
At the same moment 4 superb eauipage
refined up suddenly close by him. and he
saw the exquisite Tom tandem holding his
prancing steeds.
'Lcok here, Howard! do know what
you've been doing?' cried Tom, energetic
ally.
NO. replied Wilberforce.
We'll, Sir, You have been encouraging
lazines5, idleness, and extravaganza
Encouraging laziness, idleness and ex-
travaganceP said Wilberforce, staring at
Toms carriage. horses, and costly dress.
What do you mean?'
why, saw you giving money to a beg
gar in the streets; and you know that they
are all cheats and swindlers; so that you
may console yourself by knowing that you
are merely melting to falsehood, idleness
and crime
Yes. Sir, falsehood, and crime and idle
mes, and laziness, and debauchery! said
another voice; and Wilberforce turned to
see the severe face of Solomon Gunnybags
whose coat was buttoned very closely in-
deed, and who shook his seals defantlv.
as if 1t were perfectly useless for bent-up
old women, On door-steps, to try to bam-
boozle him.
That's the way all our charities are par
alyzed, said Tom, cutting his horses TO
make them stand
All, Sir calculated Gunnybags.
What's the use of benevolence, If YOU
are going to thwart it in this way?' asked
Tom.
'Thwart it in this way, Sirl rctorted
Gunnybags.
Are there no societies; and no schools.
and tickets for the poor, Sir?' continued
Tom
Tickets for the poor, Sir!' echoed Solo
mon.
4 don't wish to say anything hard of
YOU, Howard, for YOU are my friend; but |
am sincerely of opinion that every man
who aids and abets vagabondagc by giving
money in the streets, should be commi ted
as common vagrant.'
COMMITTED as Il common vagranf, Sir?'
put in a Solomon Gunnybags, with pro-
digi0us emphasis and an awful rat,ling Of
seals.
Howard Wherefore tells us tha he
waited until these gentlemen. so Jealous in
good theories, had concluded their Iradc
and then said:
Gentlemen, was going cheerily 10 din
ner with party of friends. | was happy,
and the world seemed quite beautiful, as i
has been very kind, to me. feel myself
in many ways-in health, in
fortune, in prospects; and in the midst of
my complacency and real pleasure my eve
falls upon poor, old, shriveled unfortun-
ate woman, covering upon doorstep
She cannot work; she cannot crawl about
and beg; she has not sense enough to un-
dcrstand your admirable system Of soup
tickets, nor to avail herself Of your well
ordered benevolence. l give her relief up
on no system. She was hungry and | fed
her; she was thirsty and L gave her drink;
had she been sick and in prison. | hope
should have visited her as l have visited
others like her. Street-begging is a bad
business, but all street-beggars are nos
scOundrels and criminals, nor idle vaga-
bonds. You cannot spin theory OF the
matter strong enough to hold all the varie-
ties and cases. Had you not better go wrong
several times, Mr.. Gunnybags, in giving
aims indiscreetly, than wrong once by not
giving where it is a case Of absolute ncces-
sity? Do you, M. Tandem, who do moth
ing all the day, who smoke and play bill |
lards at the club, and drive your pair, and
dine sumptuously, and dance gracefully
with the f,irest fair-do you suppose that
have encouraged idleness, laziness, and
Extravaganza, by giving a sixpence to the |
broken backed and broken hearted old wo-
man upon the steps? Why. man. my din
ner would certainly have cboked me other
wise
So said a Friend of Man to his friends
as he stopped with them IN Union Square.
Street begging IS bad business, but a
worse business is that selfshness which
masks as principle when it passes the
old man an old woman who are
being roughly hustled to the grave.
(Harper's Magazine.
To IMPROVE SEED PoTAToEs.-Charles
Searer Of st. LouS, recommends the fol- |