The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-08-23
A Debt Of Gratitude.

The benefaction conferred by one human
being upon another can be Justly gagged .
only by the person benefited; since that |
act of generosity which seems great to the .
world may involve very little actual bles /
sing for its subject, while an apparently |
trihinp exercise of the simplest sympathe /
tic kindness merits a debt of gratitude as
long as life. Several years ago the super
intendeut Of Job of pile-driving in the
streets of Boston noticed that a stability
dressed, shy-looking man lowered wistfully
about the labOrers for some time, and Oc-
casionally cast half questioning chances to-
ward himself Concluding at Hast, from
the persons general manner, that some
thing more than idleness and curiosity
were the Cause of such conduct, he add
/ dressed him, and was not much surprised
at being timidly asked for employment
/ The stranger was young man who had
/ LETT good home in another part OF the
/ country, to ESSAY some ot the wondrous
/ fortunes supposed to await adventurous
youth in cities, and. after being cured of
/ his deuson by dreary failure upon failure
to obtain even Il livelihood, had finally
come shabby and starving, to envy the
better luck of the street .laborer Upon
dent, at once understanding that work was
what the other really wanted, promptly en-
gagged him as a hand, and set him at his
, task Novice as he was with shovel and
axe. the young fellows conscientious way
of going heartily at his work did not save
him from the coarse derisiOu Of his fellow
/ laborers, and his quiet refusal to ioln them
: in their drinking habits increased their
cOutumely ~ persecution. Tie uttered no
e complaint and bore the infection brayely
!, but the superintendent soon comprehended
+ his torture, and 50 far intcrtered rs to re
e prcss the insolcuce of the t0rmen-
tors without exciting for the sub
q ect ot his thoughtful kindness
/ their jealousy or cumity. W hen upon,
p the completion of the contract all the men
v were discharged. the ameteur pile-driyer
expressed a gratitude 20 his friend which
s the latter deemed out OF all proportion 10
r. the benefit rendered and almost teartully
q avowed that he would yet be able 20 make
some better return than words for the ap-
ID -preciatiyr kindness he had received He
should go e. the west, he said for future
opportunities, and the superintendent part
4 ed from him without much thought or 9th
or degree of repayment for his action than
4 he had already, a. he considered most lib
IS orally received This same henetactor,
however, now living in Salem, was waited
upon few weeks ago by Western lawyer
who. relates the Salem O',srrG. after re
e calling tu his mind the incidents above de-
y ,cribc., and bciu. satisfied of his identity
~ with the good Samaritan t the pile driving
y enterprise. informed hun thar, by the Will
P" ct his nearly forgotten amateur laborer, re
lg Gently deceased be was the rps>e>,or al
Pc. Sl- 1000. bcQucathet TO him in gratitude
oi The vouu. man married and excepting ;
le legacy to q lowiy boarding house kcepe,
u who had also been kind 20 him Ia his dart
't Ro,toniau days, left al, bis prop
n erty u the friend who. la h
~ grateful estimation had been heIe
!. factor never to be forgotten Thepayueu
u seemed exorbitlnt Tor the appueuJ.
'l trihng benefit rendered but Is brtur,
" said, only the needy know the true proper
tous of the good deeds done tlr them an,
timely help 10 help themselves, or a pro
cr tactiug word spoken at the right time ma,
pr to mUre 20 their heavy hearts than the
he most o,teutatiou- offering OF charity. o.
re- professional philanthropy longest pariad
lh at sounding pra.-..