The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-11-29
A LEAF FROM A LIFE.

Inc JdClo IcCOIucu tulS 0IO-
ry occurred in a city not many miles
from here. 1t would be impossible for
such a case to happen in Chicago. We
are the personi6cation of Charity. We
are Angels, and this is Paradise There
fore, l wish it distinctly understood that
write of "pitiful case" as the pa
pers called it, which came under my
notice in distant city, years ago.
As rule, physicians are the most
charitable of men. They may not give
fortunes away in aims: but their time,
which 10 them is money, is freely given
TO the suffering, in more cases than one
might suppose, "without money and
without price" 1t was upon freezing
cold night that a young physician step
ped into the warm, well lighted Office of
a merchant prince. The doctor was
poor and needy; his coat was worn and
threadbare, and furnished but little
protection against the cold of the sea-
son, because he labored among the poor,
and gave his time to those who were un-
able to pay for it.
The merchant was a wealthy, pious,
"eminentiy respectable" member of So
ciety. Hewas the mainstaY Of church,
the promoter of charitable schemes, and
subscriber to all charities-which were
backed by influence, or conferred dis.
tinction upon the giver. The world at
large honored his name but the men
in his employ were won't to smile mys
teriously when his charities were men,
toned in their hearing, and one of them
was once heard to remark that he "ney-
er knowed man so well pamed." Now
strange TO say, this model mans name
was Cantter.
So, into Mr.. Cantter's office the young
physician walked with some trepidation;
but, Deing one of the world at large,
was confident that he would be heard,
for he was on begging expedition; not
for hims. lf-he would rather have died
than beg-but for poor boy who lay
dying in a tenement house in Dead
Mans row-lay dying of starvation. 1t
vas too late to save his ife-that the
doctor knew but he hoped to raise
sufficient money to make the boy COM
Portable for the remnant of life left him.
As he opened the door of the counting.
room, he saw Mr.. Cantter standing be
fore the glowing grate-fre, declaiming
nobly upon the beauties of true charity
to his bookkeeper, who, being hard
pushed to live upon the pittance paid
him by his employer, was not as en-.
thusiastic as his employer would have
had him.
o"--and has not charity, it profiteth
him nothing" said Mr.. Cantter, in a
loud tone of voice, as the door opened,
and the thought flashed through his
mind that perhaps it was the pastor OF
his church. The doctor entered, and
suddenly the food of elcquence which
Dir. Cantter was pouring out upon the
unresisting clerk was hushed, for he
knew the doctor, and knew also that he
was about to ask for money, and his
hands came from behind his back, wen,
into his pockets, and remained there
The doctor, by way of beginning, re
marked upon the severity of the
Eeather.
"Yes," said Mr.. Csntter, "God helr
the poor!''
The bookkeeper, bending over the
ledger, smiled to himself, but said moth
ing.
The doctor hardly liked the expires
son upon the merchants face. and the
oily unction with which these word,
rolled from his mouth, but resolutely
dashed at his subject. He depicted the
soiferings of the dwellers in Dead Mans
TOW the tumble-down houses, admit.
nns the wind and snow at every corner;
.le famine which reigned in them; and
men, excited by the troubles he had
WIN aessed, he appealed to the merchant
10 oeiP those who were unable to help
themselves.
!. warmth usually begets warmth, and
y Is therefore singular, but not less
rue, that as the doctor warmed Mr..
Osntter cooled, and when he had finish.
sPesking that gentleman said:
can do nothing for you. am g
muoscriber to the Magdalens' Home
ns hsculapius Hospital, the Seamen'i
Ae'uge, the North Pole Missions, the
But this is-,
Tract Societies." continued Mr.
ssnt.er, calmly ignoring the doctor
,; many other charities. / find my
s.;., a entirely taken up, and ! car
sA1er spare time nor money TO aid Z
l1ond who may be deceiving you
TOM 10 nv "e''P''oa ~ s'arVs
Wen, may be not; but I might b.
nseing premium on dishonesty, anc
nope 70 aid worthy ohiectsn