The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-03-28
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
The Sick Hans Deed OF Love.

The Sick Hans Deed OF Love.
lie was a poor cripple-with fingers twisted
out of all useful shape, and lower limbs I~aralyzed
90 that he had to drag them after him wealrily
when he moved through their locOnotion-a
poor. unhappy, mUrmuring, and at times, lima
tured cripple. eating tine bread which a mother :
hard labor procured for him. For hours every
fair day during spring, summer and autumn, he
might b. seen IN front of the house where he lv-
ed, leaning upon the gate, or sitting on an old
bench. looking with a sober face at the rOmpIug
village children, or dreaIningly regarding tire
passengers who moved with such strong limbs up
and down the street. How often bitter envy
stung the poor cripple. heart, How often. a.
the thOughtless village children tainted him
cruelty with his misfortune, would he fling harsh
maledictions after them Many pitied the poor
cripple many looked upon him with feelings of
disgust and repulsion but few, if any, sought -
do him good.
who had been bed-ridden for years, and who WIS
likely % remain - 70 the end of his days. He
was supported by the patient industry Of IL wife.
'If good works were to be the only passport 10
heaven ne said to a ~neighbor one day, my
chances would he small"
.. We'll done, good and faithful servant Is a
part of the language ot welcome, - was replied
and the neighbOr looked 1T the sick man in d way
that made him feel a little uncomfortable.
q" am sick and bed-ridden, -wha can | dO?'
he spoke ~fretfully.
when little i given, little l. required. But
if there be only a single talent it must be i'm
proved"
81 l have no talent, - said the invalid.
Are you sure Of tLat7"
What can | do? Look at me? No health
a poor, helpless creature, burdeIiing nv wife.
Better for me, and for all, If / were in my grave"
" IL that were so, you would he in your grave.
But God knows best. There Is something for YOU
% do, or you would be no longer permitted to
live, said the neighbor.
The sick man shook his head.
As l came along Just now continued the
neighbor, " | stopped to say Il word To poor Tom
Hicks, the cripple. as he stood swinging ON the
gate before his mothers house, looking - unhap-
py that | pitied him in my heart. What d.
you do with yourself all through these long davs.
TomT' I asked. Nothing be replied, modify.
Don't you read sometimes I queried. Can't
read. was his sullen answer Were YOU never
at SCHOOL, | went on. No, how can / get to
school? Why don't your mother teach yuU?'
= Because she can't read herself replied Tom.
: Ir isn't too late to begin now said | encourage
inSly; suppose were to find some one willing 20
teach You, what would you say the poor lads
face frightened rs If the sunshine had fallen upon
it and he answered, . l would say that nothing
could please me better | promised TO find him
a teacher. and as | promised, the thought of you.
friend Croft, came into my mind. Now. here is
49, - 6F'N@ WYNN ~ HA~AA
you can employ your one talent"
The sick man did not respond warmly 10 this
proposition He had been for 50 long u mere re-
cipient OF good Ofices-had - long felt himself
the Object toward which pity and service must
tend-that he had nearly lost the relish for good
deeds. Idle dependence had made him selfish.
" Give this poor cripple u lesson every day."
went on the n%eighbOr, pressing home the subject.
. and talk and read % him. Take him in charge
"a one of Gods childreh, who needs 10 be instruc-
rQ1 anil tI mr. fnu LE,har Il. rTYu ST.. l.. =
living. Is not this a good and IL great work? it
~, my friend; one that God has brought 10 your
hand, and IN the doing of which there will be
great reward. What can yOu do? Much
Think OF that poor boys weary life, and Of the
sadder years that lie still before him. What will !
become Of him when his mother dies? The aims
house al ne will open its doors for tine helpless
one. But who can tell what resources may Open
before him If stimulated by thought. Take him
then, and unlock the doors of "A mind that now
sits IN darkness. tina: sunlight may come in. To
you, it will give a few hours of pleasant work
each day. To him, it will he a lifelong benefit. T,
VIII you do it?"
"Yes."
The sick man could not say NO" though in
Ittering that hIlf-extOrted assent ne manifested
no warm iuteres. in the case of poor Tom Hicks.
On the next Jay the cripple came to the sick
man and received ms first lesson and every day
1t an appointed hour, he WIS in Mr.. CrOft's
room. eager for the instruction lac received.
Quickly he mastered the alphabet, and as quickly
earned To construct small words preparatory TO
them in Il reading lesson. After the
three or four days the sick man, who had
InderJakcn this work with reluctance, began to
ind his heart going down into it. Tom was -
grateful, that Mr. Croft found the task of in
'trdctins him Il real pleasure. The ncighbJr who
lad suggested this useful employment Of the in
ialId's time looked in nOw and then to see how
were progressing. to speak words of en-
Poor Tom was seen less frequently than before
on the gate or sitting idly on the bench
before his mothers dwelling. and when you did
ind him there as Oi old, You saw a different ex-
preston on his face. Soon the children. who had
looked at him, half in fear, from a distance.
,r come closer to the gate where he stood gazing
With his strange eyes cut into the street, in order
10 worry him, began to maze a different feeling
or the cripple, and one and another stopped DC
s~asiOnally To speak with him for Tom no longer
made queer faces or looked ~ them ~ If he would
Iarm them IT IN his power, nor retOrtci angrily
I they said things To worry him. And now il
,ftsn happened that a little boy OF girl, who had
litied the poor cripple and feared him ut the same
lime, would offer hlm i Hover or AN apple. or u
handful OF nuts, in passing to school and he
vOuld take these gifts thankfully, and feel better
III day in remembrance Of kindness with which
hey mad been bestowed. Sometimes he would
* 10 SEE their books, and his eyes would ran
..gerly over the pages - Ear IN advance of his
'hIleu'h's'u. 80 wen ~ Hbpt III il 'tE
M dry mastering them-fOr hc hal grown all
'thirst for kuowIcise-
~ soon a. Tom could read. the children in the
lei=hborhoOd. who hail grown to like him and
lways gathered around him ut the gate when
hey happened u fund him there, supplied him
books. 50 that he hId an abundance Of men
al food. and now began - repay his brucfactI-.
he brd-rIdden man, by reading To him for hours
very day
The mind Of Tom had some Of the qualities of
spOnge-gIve out freely at every pressure.
y heuever Ms mind came ~ contact with another
mind. it must either absorb OF impIrt. - he /
rs always talking or always listening when he z