, 1872-11-10
ALEAF FROM A LIFE.

n LLNE FRuW ~ Etf L.
The simple facts recorded in this story Occur
red in city many miles from here. 1t would be
impossible for such q case to happen in Chi
cago. We are the porsonihcation Of Charity.
We have no uncared-for poor among us. :We are
Angels, and this is Paradisel Therefore;'I wish
it distinctly understood that write Of "pitifu1
case" {as the papers called it) which came un-
der my notice in G distant city, years ago.
as rule, physicians are the most charitable
OF men. They may not givo fortunes away in
Al1ls but their time, which to them is money, is
freely given to the suffering, in moro cases than
one might suppose, without money and without
price," It was upon freezing cold night that a
young physician stepped into the warm, we'll
lighted Office of merchant-prince. The doctor
YVES poor and needy; his coat WAS worn md
threadbare, and furnished but little protection
against the cold OF the season, because he
labored among the poor, and give his time; to
those who we're unable to pay for it.
The merchant was wealthy, pious, q emf
nently respectable" member Of society," He
Was the mainstay Of church, the promoter Of
charitable schemes, and q subscriber to all
charitics-which were backed by Influence, or
conferred distinction upon the giyer. The world
at large honored his name but the men III his
employ we're wont to smile mysterioualy when
his charities were mentioned in their hearing,
and one OF them was once heard to remark that
he 1t never knowed q man so well named" Now.
strange to soy, this model mans name was
Cantter.
So, into Mr.. Cantter's Office the young phybi-
clan walked, with some trepidaHon but, being
one Of the world at large, confident that he
would be heard, for he WAS on begging expe-
dition. Not for himself, he would rather have
died than beg,-but for poor boy who lay
dying in tenement-house in Dead Mans Row,
lay dying Of starvation. It was too late to
save his life,-tbat the doctor knew but he
hoped to raise sufficient money to make the boy
comfortable for the remnant OF life left him.
As hc opened the door OF the counting-rooa, he
eaw Mr. Cantter standing before tho glowing
grate-hre, declaiming nobly upon the beauties
Of true charity to his bookkeeper, who, being
hard pushed to live upon the pittance paid Linn
by his employer, was not as enthusiastic as his
employer would have had him.
and has not charity, it profteth him
nothing" said Mr.. Cantler, IN 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
Cantler was pouring out upon the unresisting
t 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, went
into his pockets and remained there. The doc
tor, b. way Of beginning, remarked upon the
severity Of the weather.
"Yes," said Mr. Cantter, "God help the
poor!"
The bookkeeper, bending over the ledger,
| smiled to himself, but said nothing.
| The doctor hardly liked the expression upon
| the merchants face, and the oily JUNCTION with
which these words rolled from lis mouth; but
resolutely dashed at his subject. He depicted
! the sufferings of the dwellers in Dedd Mans
Row; the tumble-down houses, admitting the
wind and snow at every corners the famine
| which reigned in them; and then, excited by
the troubles he had witnessed, he appealed to
the merchant to help those who were" "unable to
help themselves:
therefore more singular, but not less true, that,
| as the doctor warmed, Mr. Cantter cooled .>and,
| when he had finished speaking, that gentleman
| said:
." can do nothing for you. nm a subscriber
pital, the seamen's Refuge, tue A5rlh Pole Mis~
eions. the"
< But this is"
tsrract Societies. continued 71r. Cantter,
calmly ignoring the doctor, *'and many other
charities. find my timo entirely taken up, and
I can neither spare time nor money to aid yag-
| abond who may be deceiving you--"
- There can be no deception in starvation"
Well, may be not; but I might be placing a
premium on dishonesty, and l hope to aid
4, worthy objects"
"Al worthy, no doubt but this is a case o1
such utter wretcheduesB 4 boy, little morse
Of child, dying for want Of food;' pleaded
the doctor.
81 dare say" said Mr. Cantter s' but char
ity, to be effective. must be we'll directed. Yo1
must come to our church nezt Sunday. W.
have the finest preacher in the city, and, as hit
sermon is upon charity, you viii, 10 doubt, b<
able to profit by his suggestions
"But about the boy? :" said the doctor, fearful
that tie conversation would wander away from
the subject which interested him more than the
sermon which was in prospect.
~ can't squander money on such objects,
said the merchaut, again suddenly dropping
from warmth to cold: :. | can give you lette1
and, at the next meeting Of the Board -"
"D-n the Board!' said the doctor, nov
thoroughly Indignant.
Profanity! And in my presence!" exclaim
''Shock you!" said tho doctor. "Shock you
How have you shocked me with your lying tall
Of charity? IL it charity to go to 8 fine church
charity to 50 to q luxurious home, to eat grant
dinner. and talk over the sermon? Is it charity
to sit on velvet sofa before blazing fire; Il
look through French pate-glass windows at tht
say, God help tile poor?' Shame upon suci
CHARITY"
"Sir!" said A1r. Cantter. The bookkeepe,
smiled encouragngly upon the speaker.
!! Shame upou such charity. eay,' continued
he, borne on by the flood of indignation. "a
i true, noble charity is the best thing upon earth
but hypocritical charity should be a weigh
; sufficient to damn any aoAl." And, elammln,
the dqor to-, the doctor strobe away.
'1'am truly shocked at thatyoung mans rcck
: less use Of strong TERMS" said Mr.. Cantter
: "but," lie added, reaectively, ''let us hope tha
will see the error Of his ways and repent be
fore it is too late. 1hope, Mr. Strong, that yo'
will take warning from him, and be more regu
lar IN your attendance at church. BY the way
Tomorrow is Sunday. and you. must come to ou
church aud lear Mr.. uighfalutin on Charity
The doctor, disl4eartened at his rebuff, au
, thoroughly indignant at the hypocrisy Of whE
he had been witness, paused irresolutely upo
quick step behind him; then. hand hurricdl
Il thrust email roll Of money into his; aud turn
) ing, he was just in tmo to see the form Of Mr