The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-11-06
THE POOR.

THE POOR.
The weather is now becoming cold, and those
who have the means are laying in their supplies
of fuel for the winter, if they have not already
done so. Such is not, however, the case with
very large proportion of our population, who are
not able to command the money during the
Summer and the early Fall. This numerous
class of our people are forced, by their light
purses, to buy in the Winter at often twice the
price that our wealthier citizens give in Sum-
mer, and it is very common that they have to
stint themselves in this most necessary article
of fuel, and many more than we suspect contract
disease from not being able to keep warm 10
Winter.
But bad as is the condition Of this latter por
ton of our people, it is Infinitely better than
that of so very many who are not able to buy
fuel at all. The number of these very untortu-
nate people is very great and they are especial
objects of charity. In the vast majority OF In
stances they are poor women, or disabled or su-
perannuated men who have not been able to OBJ
tain enough from their daily hard earnings to
buy little wood in Winter to save them from
freezing.
We call upon you who have been more favor
ed by Providence than these poor people, to
come to their assistance, and to contribute to
their wants. We acknowledge that man has
legal right to refuse to contribute cent to
his suffering fellow mortals; but if there is any
truth in the Bible, the rich man has no rayht
to withhold assistance which he o1res to the
poor.
Fashionable young lady, how can you attire
yourself 10 silks of such extravaganza that one
single dress will cost enough to furnish enough
to ten poor families to keep them from freezing!
You may have the legal right to deck yourself
off at any cost, but you have not the moral right
to do SO, while many suffering around
you.
Finally, we appeal to all the community that
are like yourselves above want. Every one of
you could spare something to help the poor, if
you would curtail some slight expenses, or some
little Injuries which you would not miss, and
the absence of which would benefit both your
souls and your bodies. 1t is astonishing to
what an aggregate of good may be done by a
whole community when they resolutely deter
mine to give little each, and to do so persever-
ingly and continuously.
Let our people think of the poor whom We
shall always have among US, and who from pre-
sent circumstances have more claim upon now
than they ever had before. Let every man lay
by something to give in charity, and he will be
laying up here on earth cause of that sat:sfac
ton afforded by good conscience, and, more
than ALL he will secure to himself the approba-
ton of Him who enjoined upon US the bestowal
of charity as the peculiar duty Of the Christian,
and who has declared "that it is more blessed
to give than to receive"
A $50 900 JoB.-The head clerk of large
firm in Charlestown promised an old customer,
one day. half bale of Russian duck to be on
hand precisely at one o'clock, when The man was
to leave town with his goods. The firm were
out of duck, and the clerk went over to Boston
to buy some Not finding truckman, be hired
man to take it over in his wheebarrow. Finish
ing other business, on his return to Charlestown
the clerk found the mau not half way over the
bridge sitting on his barrow. half dead with the
heat.
What was to be done? 1t was then hafpast
twelve, and the goods were promised at one
There was not a moment to loose. In spite of
the heat, the DUST and his fine light summer
clothes, the young man seized the wheelbarrow
and pushed on.
Pretty soon rich merchant whom the young
man knew very we'll, riding on horse back over
took him. "What," said he, Mr. Wilder turned
truckman ~
YES" answered the clerk "The goods are
promised at one o'clock, and my man has piyep
out. But you see, am determined to be as rood
DIS my "oFu
"Good, good" said the gentleman, and started
on.
Calling at the store where the young man was
employed, he told his employer what he had seem
"And want you to tell him." said the gentle
man, that when he goes into business for himself
my name is at his service for thirty thousand dol,
lars"
Reaching the store, which he did in time. Won
may be sure the value set on his conduct made
amends for the heat, anxiety, and fatigue of work
heep'"g has ,oord. You see how important
| 1t Is regarded. 1t is one Of the best kinds of
capital business man can have. To be- worth
much to any body boy must form character
for reliability. He must be depended unon
And you will like to know perhaps that this voun
man became one of the most eminent merchants
of his day, known far and wide, both in Eurone
and this country. His name was S. S. Wilder
and he was the first President of the American
Tract Society, which issues papers to the dear
childreD Of tho land -