The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-09-16
The Lent Half-dollar.


father, to buy anything he pleased
for a New Years present. Tho
boys mother that morning had
taught him the verse: Gle that
hath pity Oh the poor lcndcth to
the Lord, and that which he hath
will lie repay him again." The
words were running III the boys
mind, on his way to the store to
purchase toy that he had seen in
the window Of the shop the prcvi-
GUS day.
Just before Charlie reached the
store, he met 4 poor woman, who
had sometimes done washing for
his mother, and she seemed to be
i'll great distress.
"What is the matter, IIannali?!"
said this kind-hcartcd child.
ooh, Master Charlie, I've got to
be turned into the street this
cold morning, and my little Bill is
SO sick, too!''
''Turncd into the strcct-you
and Bill-what for?"
"Bccausc | can't raise my weekly
rent. I've just been to to see my
landlord, and he says it's three
days over due, and he'll not wait
another day. There SO tho men to
put out my bed and stove, and few
other things, on the sidewalk. Oh,
what shall do!'
GLOW much is your rent, Ham
nah?" asked the boy, with a chok-
ing voice.
sIt's half dollar" said the wo-
man. cit will kill Bill to put him
out i'll this cold, and sure I will die
with him."
@No, you won't t-no, you shant?"
said the tcndcr-hcarted child; and
feeling in his pocket brought forth
his treasured halfdollar and placed
it quickly in her hands. Seeing
she hcsitated to keep it, notwith
standing her great need, Charlie
told her it was all his own, to spend
as he pleased, and that he would
rather give it to her than have the
incest toy in the store. Then
walking away swiftly from the
shop windows, which were all full
of tempting New Years presents,
he went bravcly home to his moth
er, sure Of her appreciation. The
first person he met was his grand
father. He had observed Charlie
SO down the street, and waited
for his return, that he might see
what he had bought. So his first
salutation was:
"Wcll, child, what have You
done with your money!
Now Charlie's grandfather was
not q religious man; and the boy
knew, that though he sometimes
gave money to his relations, he sci
dom or never bestowed it upon the
poor, so he would rathcrnot tell him
what lie had done with his money;
but while he hcsitatcd, the verse lie
had that morning learned came
into his mind and helped him to an
swer. Looking pleasantly into
his grandfather's face he said:
"pve lent it, Sir"
Silent your halfdollar, foolish
boy! You'll never get it again, l
know"
"Oh yes, I shall, grandpa, forrve
got promise to pay"
"You mean anotc, I suppose but
it isn't worth cent"
"Oh yes grandpa, it is perfectly
good. I'm sure about it, for it's in
The Biblc.''
"You mean, you have put it there
for safe keeping, CHI? Let me see
it,"
Charlie brought him the book
and showed him the verse: lie
that pity the poor lcndcth to the
Lord, and that he hath given will
lie pay him again.
$50 You gave your money TO
Some poor scamp? We'll, you'll
never sec it again. Who has got
it, pray?"
81 gave it to Hannah Green, sir"
Charlie told him the sad story.
80 tudgc' said his grandfather,
Syon can't pay poor folks rent.
It's all nonsense. And now you've
80 >