Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-10-17
AGharming Starg
CHARITY versus SLIPPERS.


one thing conducive to rest, il is pair o
comfortable slippers"
Be il known that was addressing no on,
in particular, unless, indeed, my slipperct
feet, as they lowered above me on the man
tlc-piecc, could be supposed to constitute
listener. think it is as well to explain
that am not in the habit OF elevating m,
toes in our favorite American asLion, o
indeed of compromising in any way TIN
dignity of a fashionable clergyman; but nov
and then | indulge myself little, and oil
this particular day had been performing
my Christmas charitable duties with a zea
which thought deserved reward. This BY
the way.
"Yes, continued, with no small salts
faction, ''if ever l discharged my yearl,
duties Alright | have done SO to-day. and tha
with great bodily and mental fatigue.
think my Christmas text will be, But tht
greatest of these is Charity could preacl
feelingly on those words
"Rubbish !"
sEh!" and stared round the room; bu
nothing unusual met my gaze save the waxy
Christmas rose that my little daughter hat
placed on the table to gladden. the eyes oI
papa. Rubbish, indeed! echoed indig.
nantly. 81 wonder what can have put sucl
notion into my head. Rubbish. | only
wish my hearers may follow their pastors
example. There will be no lack of charity
then"
sNonsense.'
There was no mistake about it this time,
and as again glanced at the innocent-look-
ing flower | perceived little wretched
sprite in yellow attire noddlng and grmac-
ing at me from behind its white petals.
"Pray, Sir" quoth l, rather testify,
"what may you be pleased TO term mon
sense p"
g Your charity, and he grimaccd again.
Indeed! Perhaps you do not like good
works?'
Excuse me, was merely insinuating
that what you term charity is not the genu-
inc article
| felt my myself getting rather hot.
:. Perhaps you would favor mo further
with your opinions, retored, with terrible
irony.
"Certainly. am Charity's clerk. look
ing after her interests, and don't consider
that they flourish in your part of the world.
You may have been doing your duty, but as
for Charity gh!' and he snapped his fin
gers at me.
was too astonishcd to speak, so he con-
tinued.
"Chariiy, indeed, Was it charity that
induced you to hand over larger gift than
usual to the +. IS, because they lived in dis
senting neighborhood, and could laud to adj
vantage the Churchs liberality2 Or, again,
was it charity that made you dole out a small
Ter bounty to Widow i. and her family, be-
cause you suspected her of prejudice in
favor of the Mcthodists? Charity suffcreth
long, and is kind'-was it charity, then,
which made you neglect N, whose son was
SO uncivil 10 you? Or, again, was it charity
which mada you forget Mrs. A., who lives
such long way off from that bazaar where
you stepped in 10 buy some things for your
children r
.'Really,p sammercd, with blushing
consciousness, II could not forget my
family" Charity begins at home ~
''But it does not end there" quoth my
mentor ''and Charity seeketh not its own
that is Scripture, and your quotation was
not.
I" But | really forgot Mrs. B. and N.
regret il extremely
do you' Then why don't you start of
al once to amend your errors p
"Really," demonstrated, the more, sug-
gestion sounding most unplcasantly ''really,
| am quite exhausted with my days work !
and looked wistfully at my slippers, and
the said slippers, encasing my feet, looked
placidly at their owner from their marble
resting place.
Exhausted Very likely; SO are N.and
A., and H., with all his little children, who
will not taste meat on Chrstmas-day if you
don't go TO him..
But l can go tomorrow, groaned.
mot at ALL Tomorrow yon have tc
superintend your childrcn's Christmas treat
after writing your sermon. Think of L.
little children, with no treat at all, not ever
the natural one of food Go at once
thought of my own happy little ones
apI I,rt, font int
ing boots, preparatory TO departing OH my
charitable expedition but few minute.
later, my hall door was slammed in a very
unekarlable fashion.
wonder by whom!
was very cold and tolerably cross wlel
returned to my study,and to my fire, ,whicl
had dwindlcd down to its last embers, ant
to my much-esteemed slippers, which last
toasting coziy on the rug, looked far NOR
comfortable than their owner. Ncverthc
less, settled myself in my arm chair will
the agreeable satisfaction OF a man worn-ou
in the performance of his duty, and wh'
feels that, come what may, none can re
proach him; and forthwith began to colilo
quize on the ingratitud. of some of my poo
people. "There," reflected, twas Joh
A., who only greeted me with black looks
as if my advent were bore and b. too
the relief as matter of coarse. As for tina
garrulous widow N, thought should neye
hear the end of her long complaints; not
thought as to my bodily fatigue in minister
ing to their wants. The only one who at a
appreciated my doings was Mrs. p til
Irishwoman, who compared me to the Ang:
of Mercy-nattery, no doubt, but still yer
pleasant to frame wearied in the eXercis
of charity"
Hum" quoth my little friend, peerin
over the petals of my rose.
$50 you are still there, my small mentor
Well, you may have your say now withol
incommoding me, as YOU can certainly n,
now reproach me with want of charity.
4" Oh, indeed!" was the curt rejoinder.
" Well, and pray whist have you to obje
to now 2" and settled myself back haught
ly. " l am sure have been very busy ca
! rying out your injnnctions. Pray what
troubling your mind now respecting II