The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-12-23

timely GIFrs.-We referred in our issue
Of yesterday, To the seasonable bestowal of
gifts to the poor; and i'll renewing the sub.
ject, we do so with the conviction that it is
one which comes home to all With the
cold blasts OF winter, aud the seventies it
brings, large class OF those in cur midst
are plunged from moderate comfort into alb
ject misery. The poor 10 all cities appeal
to the goodness and kind commisseration OF
those whose affiuence enable them, at a
slight sacrifice of time and means, to supply
the more pressing wants of this large class,
| who, without speaking their wants, still
make them patent to the world by their own
evidence. We can all pause and add oul.
own mite in such cause and we would find
it very hard indeed, if the question was di-
rectly put to US, to answer tor the omission
There is no excuse which can be advanced
which is strong enough to hide from our
I own hearts the neglect of duties which speak
to us "trumpet tongued.' The poor by the
dreadful privilege of their wants, held the
first approaches to our sympathies, and caa
not be thrust aside by sophistry or careless
promises.
Another error, next only to direct omis-
sion, is the unskilfu and spasmodc dispen-
sation of charity, which, without system
exhausts the charity without benehtting the
recipient We are glad that this fatal error
10 han hr
ton of those kindly-disposed people, who
think that in casting their bread upon the
waters, they shall have it returned to them,
even after many days. in this, as in all
things, unity is strength, and what would
be impossible to one becomes an agreeable
and easy laber to the many. We have,
however, to guard against the pernicious
reasoning of "what is every ones business is
nobody's;" and to constitute the goodwill
and charity OF the many into strong and
efficient band of Jealous aborers. Readers,
we are speaking for those whose voices are
seldom heard for themselves; we are sdvo.
eating cause which is humanity's and
which by the right OF greater law than that
framed on earth, comes home to every mas
The cause of the poor is divine one, and
can never be urged in vain. There are able
Jealous minds at work, and all they want is
the aid which the common religion of char
ity makes imperative. 1t is a Home Mission
which demands your notice at your very
doors; which requires aid at every step, and
which gives the harvest to the HANDS of
those who SOW. The poor are here, and
| their wants and necessities belong to our
care. Shall we let them pass unnoticed and
aforementioned We are sure that such
will not be the case; every noble pulse will
beat quicker, every eye glisten in doing an
act Of kindly charity. We must be up and
doing; not unwisely aiding imposture, but
| iudiciously giving that new life of happiness
which the most worldly of US Year, for, and
may some day seek in vain. Practical meas
ures are the order OF everything in our day;
therefore, let it be so in this imperative la
Dor, no less practical than in other things
| The action which gives pleasure must be a
good one; and that which ightens the load
of the oppressed is a sacred one, not less
pleasurable because effected at sacrifice. -
! HELP THE PooRi
GIFT Books, FINE BIBLES, PRAYER Books,
PohMs, &o.--A fine lot Of desirable Git
Books, is offered at sacrifice, at No. ~,
Day Book Building, Call and secare a bar
gain. %
Gov. Black, OF Nebraska, warmly urges the
admission of that Territory into the Union,