American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-02-27
KINDNESS REWARDED.

1t is dreadful thing to be old and
poor, and have no home but there is
deeper depth of human calamity than
this--it IS to have in addition, an old
age of wasting, wearing sickness, which
is often superinduced by that constant
depression of mind which attends the
o1sciousness of beipg alone and friend
less and in want. One OF the best means
of avoidDg an old age of ofdestitution and
bodily suffering is to cultivate while
young all the benevolent and generous
feelings of our nature, never by any pos
sibi.ity allowing any opportunity pass of
betriending fellow-traveler, as we are
passing on life's journey, for sooner or
later the reward will come of happy
heart and oftentimes a comfortable pro-
vision for declining years.
In 1912, wounded soldier was lying
helpless on the plains of Chalmetta, a
few miles below New Orleans. A youth
passed that way, kneeled at his side, in.
quired as to his wants, conveyed him to
shelter, and remained with him until
he was able to leave for his home in the
city. Nearly half century later, the
wounded soldier died, but ole Judah
Touro never forgot the youth who help
ed him on the battlefield, and left him
fifty tho usand dollars in money, besides
some duties to perform which eventually
yielded Mr. Shepherd 100000 more.
While living in New Orleans about
the year 1850, poor young doctor, with
largo family and a SIN all practice, often
came into my office. He was always
courteous, always kind, and always sad !;
and who could be otherwise when ankles
ty for to.morrow's bread for wife and
children is always pressing on the heart?
But .here ca me letter one day, with the
English post-maIk, making inquiries for
certain young American doctor who
had greatly befriendsd an English gems
tleman during long and dangerous at
tack of sickness in New Orleans a mum,
Der of years before. The grateful gen
tleman had died, apd left our poor young
doctor large estate.
Ten years ago, and less, there lived in
the city of New York a clergyman whose
name and memory are sacred to thous.
ands OF grateful, loving, revering hearts
He has not been dead long; he will nev-
er die ou: of the holy affections of tn
people before whom he came in and
went out so many years. Among his
people there was one man, and he was of
large wealth, who seemed to make it his
special business, as it was his highest
happiness, to see that his revered pastor
wanted nothing 1t was not ftful care
It did not spring up in May, and die
long before December came, but through
weeks and months and long years it was
always the same; incessant, perennial,
gushing up always like a never. failing
spring. The pastor died; his loving
watcher, by no fault Of his own, failed
for almost millions; any recovery was abb
solutely hopeless. The grief that press
ed him most was the loss of ability to
help the helpless. Men looked on and
wondered, and began to question if Prov
idence would let such man como to
want in his gray hairs. But there was
an eye upon him. A man of very great
wealth said : "He must not suffer who
cared 60 we'll and so faithfully and long
for my old minister. He is Just the man
| want to attend to my estates, and he
shall have all he asks for as compensa,
tion for his services. ."-HaPs Journal
of Health.