The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-09-14
iSesHznsons.
The Duty of Giving.


share Of their riches TO others
What have. made by my own Ia
Dor, and I have right to do what
I please with it'-is supposed to
enbody the highest Of all human
rights. II certainly docs express a
legal right; no one is bound to give
away the fruits Of his labors TO
others; but there arc moral obliga-
tioas that are above all merely ie-
gal duties. If all persons were sci
fish, and each one we're to refuse 3
share ofhis earnings to others, what
would become OF The needy, the fee
ble and tue unfortunate II is said
that when 8 gang Of wild horses
un the pamPas Of South America,
become frightened at the approach
ofan enemy, they start of at full
speed, in compact body; and if
oac falls through fcebleness or old
age, he is trodden to death beneath
their houfs, or left TO the mercy of
the foe. This is very horse-like
but not very human. The sick, the
young, the infTn, and the unfortu
nate Of mankind, who, in the furios
struggle for wealth and power in the
race Of life, fail beneath the feet of
the struggling mass, have a claim
on US for a gentler fate than to be
crushed to death, or left to die in
neglect and misery. To feed the
hungry and clothe the naked, give
drink to the thirsty and shelter to
the homeless-to lift up those who
have been northumberland are
duties measured only by our abili-
ty 70 do them. Those who have
little, need give but little; those who
have much are bound to give of the
abundance; for with all the giving
We are disposed to do, there will
still he az immeasurable amount of
uar,jicYel poverty and hardships
i'll the world, But giving is not on
~ Z duty; it is q privilege and a
pleasure Not to him who doles
ont his starved charities reluctant
Is, and grudges them as they fall
into the thin hands of suffering? to
such q one it is anguish and torture.
His heart does not give with his
hand, and he does not give at all,
except from shame or cOmpulsiOn.
l}ut to him who gives for the sake
ofgiying-Tho dispenses charity to
relieve suffering, and to witness the
delight that it affords it's recipients
and who rejoices to have it IN his
power to give-to such a man, it
Is one of the purest joys the earth
affords. None of the thrifty max
ans Of business, incalculate the du-
~ Of giving, or intimGte the value
Gift as sn agent of accumulation
bat the Bible which contains more
Inaxims Of wisdom than any other
book in the world, tells US: There
is that gives and yet gathereth;
and there is that hoardeth and yet
acsttercth abroad" Perhaps no
one WAS ever impoverished by a ju-
dicious distribution ef bis riches;
10 one ever becamc the poorer for
sharing his money with the
needy, There is a recuperative
power in hearty charity, which like
the widows oil cruise and handful
Il meal, inyisibly multiplies the
store from which gifts are dispens-
Cd, and causes it to grow with its
oUtgoihgs. George Peabody gave
away his wealth with gigantic lib
crafty. that niggards could not un-
derstand, and that seemed to threat
On him with bankruptcy; but the
more he gave the more he gather
el and the more his business pros
pered, till he seemed like a distrib-
uting reservoir of wealth, filed on
one side from the cornucopia of
plenty, As fast as il was cmptied on
tae other among the objects of his
charity. Foolish extravaganza is
no virtue, and a promiscuous scat
tering abroad of the fruits of ones
labor. IS not to be commended; but
every child should be taught, that
giving 20 the needy IS not only a
duty and a pleasure but a good in
Hestfncnt cfTnoneY.