Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-03-24
Town and Conntrv--Tha Poor.

The short but simple annals of the poor
are too much neglected, though recommended
to our notice net only by Christian teachers of
our moral duty, but by those who, in serving
the muse, endeavor to touch with wholesome
purpose the feelings Of our common nature.
lie serves the muses. erringly and i'll
Whose ain is pleasue, light and fugitive.'
But that is no light or transient pleasure
which, while it interests our sympathies,
opens as it were new mansions in the heart
for the hospitabe reception, in all time to
come, of kind or tender thoughts respecting
the humble poor, whom we have always with
US. 1t is true that in cities, where men are
wont to cast their Individual responsibilities
upon the public institutions which. they sup
port, and where imposture is so apt to grow
confident from the faculty of escaping into
the crowd, there is not SO much opportunity
for taking q practical interest in the affairs
of the poor as the habits of the country pre-.
sent. This, though it be thought by many a
relief, is in truth at least SO VIC believe, one
of the greatest, if it be not the very greatest
of the evils that attend upon constant resi-
dence in great city. We cease almost to
know any class but our own. We are indeed
aware of the existence of other classes but
it is not practical direct knowledge. 1t
comes to us by tradition, or by casual brief
observation, which leaves 10 permanent i'm.
press upon our minds. We see laboring
men about new buildings, or carrying bur-
dens and We know that they work hard, and
live but poorly, and there's an end More
about them we do not care to know. We
have never seen where Or how they live, and
we have no wish to do 30. We have gagls,
impression that when they iussss-
are somewhat noisomeiysel saded together,
that they feed rather disgustingly, that they
often get drunk, and net seldom have quarrel
and fights among themselves. This we learn
partly from newspapers, partly from servants,
partly from glimpse Of observation now
and then at the corner of some shabby street
where something is seen, and more guessed at
But we are not a jot concern about thg. mat
ter. What is it to us?
Alas we consider not how much we our.
selves loose in this, as well as the poor. W.
do not say that in Il great city the practice
of life could be otherwise, for delicacy and
safety forbid habitual intercourse with thu
crowded, obscure, and unwhoesome haunt
where city poverty finds shelter or hidin!
place, where the criminal, skulking from jus
tice and the open day, seeks the same lodging
with the poor laborer who can afford no bet
ter abode than that of dirt and darkness
This is the condition of city life, and by i
we are shut out from much valuable sympa
thy and really useful knowledge; knowledg
of others and of ourselves, seeing that w
are but human creatures, even as the mean
est we can meet. and yet how apt men ar
to boast; and men, too, who lay claim to tn
title Of philosophers, Of the superior intelli
gence Of those who live in large towns.--
What is the real value of that intelligence
They are more ready in speech, more shar
in discussion, more quick to act upon til
suggestions Of fancy, or the impulse Of party
but with the best sort of practical knowledge
that of the lives, habits, wants, thought:
feelings, of various conditions Of men, an
Of the general principles which conduce t
bind the whole together in peace and securi
ty, they have no practical opportunities c
becoming acquainted.
Nor do we mean to say that in the country
where the indoor circumstances of the cot
tages of the poor, and considerable practica
acquaintance with their way of life, are pal
of the familiar experience of every one, Their
are philosophical principles deduced, or an
general theories Of conduct which they, VIII
have such experience, could explain, or hav
ever recognized. But the useful knowlodg
may be there, aud the useful habits, thong
the people under their influence have neve
philosophical about the matter There
such thing as philosophy without philosc
phising, just as man may have all the beau
ty of picture deep in his heart, with n
more knowledge Of the artistical effects {
light and shade than he has of the way nose
are kept from being frost-bitten in the plane
Saturn.
Who can venture to say, the influence VI
on mems characters and conduct Of thos
personal histories which, in country life stan
out before the community individualized
daily moniton, or awakener of the heart
In cities these are lost in the crowd, or,
seen distinctly for moment, presently los
sight Of. Take, for example, such a poe
crazed creature as Cowper so touchingly an
admirably sketches, conveying whole hstc
rylin few expressive lines let us just plac
the sketch before us, and reflect upon wha
the reality would (unconsciously, perhaps
teach the neighborhood where she was dali
seen:
| There often wanlers one whom better days
| Saw better clad. in cloak of satin trmm'd
/ With lace, and hat with splendid riband bound
A serving maid was she, and fell in love
With one who left her, went to sea, and died.
+. Her fancy FOLLOWED him through fcamng waves
/ To distant sho res, and she would sit and wesp
i At what sailor suffers; fancy too,
Il Delusive most where warmest wishes are,
Il Would eft anticipate his glad return,
And dream OF transports she was not to know.
f She heard the doeful tidng OF his death
And never smiled again! And now she roams
The dreary waste there spends the livelong day.
And there, unless when charity forbds,
The livelong night. a tattcr'd apron hides,
Worn as cloak, and hardly hides, gown
More tatter'd still and both but i'll conceal
bosom heav'd with never ceasing signs.
| She begs an idle pin of all she meets,
And An boards them IN her sleeves but needful food,
Though pressed with hunger oft, comelier clothes,
Though pinch'd with cold asks never Kate is craze
This we, who read books may, perhap
i have more wildly presented to our fame
] than actual sights Of such an object presen
. It to the minds of fh0sc IN whnsn II ia n