St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-05-17
The WOrid's Beggars.

Most individuals have dread of beg-
sars For there will come TO your doors
those whom for your own sake YOU can
not refuse, being in doubt those whom
YOU should not refuse, being assured of
their need, and those whom YOU should
refuse, but cannot because of their i'm
portunity. Do we deny food to man,
woman or child, who comes TO us seek
ing it, though We see every day of our
lives little happy tatterdemalions sorting
noodles" from the basket-mass of stale
bread and potatoes, and know for a Ger
tainty that the bulk of their cleaning
will 60 TO enrich some vacant lot, OF
moulder with IL kind in some houseless
cellar , We suffer ourselves to he i'm
posed upon, not willingly but passively,
through fear of sending the hungry away
empty
livery week last year. two squalid SIS
tiers with unwashed hands presented
themselves III the side door of our house.
and made known their multitudinous de-
>ires- The kitchen door being in the
rear they never troubled themselves TO
find that. Possibly the side door had a
reputation for benerolence that the other
had not. First came a plea for .'cold
pieces in 4 most unnatural, uncalled-
for whine, then for shoes. stockings,
hood>, old dresses, aprons, bits of calico
for patchwork, (with increasing sorrOw)
old ribbons or anything for a dolly. part
OF 4 sheet of paper, a needleful of thread,
an old pIncushion. any bits of carpet, an
old char, :; hair brush. little twine, a
few flowers, and finally drink of water.
These belonged 10 a class of educated
bc-r.cIrS who make a business of teazing.
AMI care very little what they get If they
c;n but worry one 10 send them off with
something for the sake of quiet In GEN
eral one buys peace in 4 dear market
One day when they went they watched
their opportunity. aiding a handful of
choice tulips 10 those already given,
breaking down more than they took.
AMI pulled up a towering pet geranium
that WAS Just taking kindly TO the soil
after 4 winter indoors. But my Tempo
rarv loss has proved 10 be a permanent
gam, a. the TWAIN never raised the SIDE
door knocker ;.iterward, and were sure.
like the priest md I-evite of old. 10 pass
b; Ali haste on the other side
One thrifty housewife, not many
streets from my Own door, Iestows her
charity a. She governs her household,
promptly and severely. To every ap-
pe:Il for fool. She r,.jolns, :. Yes, but
come in and eat il | don't have good
victuals carried awas from my house f.
feed cats and dogs, - ~ the generous
slice smoothly spread with fittv cent but
Ter must lie disposed OF before the kitchen
fire, n If there Were no possibility of
craving Stoinachs at home. no probabili-
ty of a mother gaunt and hollow eyed.
no tender thre--year-olds with wan.
longing faces, trying 10 >till the hunger
pam with the thought of what the basket
MAY brln. home.
admit that there are sturdy beggars
whom one NAV refuse if he ur she Is
able. and still keep a good conscience.
onr OF tins class once presented himself
at the door of a well-to-do-mairon. who,
instead OF obeving her first impulse and
shutting the door upon him. reccnsidered
the case. and spread Tor him the orii-
nary white slice from the family Loaf.
The should be recipient an-rily refused.
and turncl from the door mutterinr,
''iircad all butter, bread AMI butter,
| bclicve felix's think | can live on bread
and butter" Not - came smiling
hoI carrier 10 INV kitchen door one sun
shiny morning. "'Good luck TO We lady,
and can We give Il poor fellow bite o
sometEin' ! I'm % hungry | could eat 4
cold po;atee-" There was a resistless
contagion in the broad CHEEKY smile. 4
brave overcoming OF the beg.arS' prero-
gaiivc that inclined even hard yisaged
Bridget who always drove off stray cats
with anathemaS. and shook her broom
wrathtully at lean, prowling ours, 10 he
gracious 10 the man who had large faith
in human nature He asked expecting
10 receive, and my heart SO warmed to-
ward his kind that | was in imminent
danger of parting with INV substance 10
feed those who were not hungry, and TO
clothe those who were not naked
And then ! fell 10 thinking that man in
his best estate Is but 4 beggar after all
lie who sternly avows that he will die
but never BEG, simply affirms that he
Will not ask fer food OF raiment or the
means of procuring either. He sues for
mans friendship and favor, for woman's
love and devotion, for Gods protection
and blessing. And who maketh him to
differ from his brother who asks in faith
for old clothes, broken meat, and cold
potatoes