The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-12-16
TEN s.s,7.oly ZERO.

As we write the thermometer Indicates
ten degrees below z,ro. AT the same time
the angel of death is supplanting in many
household the unwelcome visitor sickness
by its sill more uiyclcomc visits. For
the past few weeks this dark winged angel
has been busy indeed, rcaping harvests
everywhere especially among Tie young.
Our own town, county and state. have not
been passed by II this village, there are
families who count among their lost treas
ures, as in the days of grief they are wont
to consider them, six out of eight children
tina. God had lent them for awhile, in
Others, the loss arc reckoned from that
number down, with the added burden OF
being left childless. In the abodes of the
poor and needy, as well as in those of the
more prosperous, death has been indscrin-
mate in his dealings. All alike mourn as
those without hops, failing to derive COM
fort from the thought that their little ones
are taken from woes 20 come, and can now
'hunger no more, neither thirst any more"
and are where there shall be "neither SOL
roy, nor crying, neither shall there be any
more pain" This thought ought surely to
afford abundant consolation when the
gaunt giants want and poverty are Stalking
throughout the land leaving their foot
prints, many and deep, in every communt-
ty. Our duty, Low, is with the living not
The dead-they are beyond our aims or
pity The cry of dcsttution and suffering
comes up to us from all parts of the coun-
try. In some states, the grasshopper has
destroyed every green thing that con-
tributes for the food of man in other
places, there is total failure OF crops on
account of an extraordinary season of rain,
heat or cold, or from some other cause in
still others large number Of workingmcn
and laborers are working on re luced time
and for small and inadequate wages !;
while in others, it is impossible to
obtain employment on account of the stag
nation in busness-a as in New York where,
as is estimated, some one fifth of the labor
ing population is without employment ;
others suffer for various causes--it may be
en- account of the habits or crimes of him
who should be their natural protector. All
of these cases appeal to our sympathies as
well as to the purses Of those who can
spare even mite therefrom. While re-
spending to these appeals, let us not forget
that poverty, want, absolute restitution has
firm hold on many households in oul
very midst. With the thermometer at ter
degrees below zero, with the chilly winter
blasts finding entrance into the best Of
houses, how must those suffer who are lily
clad, with little or no fuel, only scant,
food. whose home, if home it can be called
is Oh II a rickety shanly unworthy of tn
name of house? There are many such II
this, as in every other community. Man.
of them have false pride and fail to max
their utter destitutiOn known. Shall We
fir this cause, neglect them? Remembe
that this winter they suffer more than ever
Those who have all the comforts of lii
little realize the suffering by which the
are surrounded suffering rendered all tn
more intense and vivid by The contrast. l
this age and century, in this christia
country, there 10 40 need OF enforcing tn
duty Of charity. We ell, theoretically, bt
licve in acts Of charity, hut. practically, d
we prove our faith by our words AN
faith without works Ii dead. Relief fl
our own suffering poor should lie proinp
ly organized, and this shOnld be suppl
mcntel trough private channels. Wit
aid so directed, by searching through IL
rude hamlcts which line the highways, III
back streets, lanes and alleys, m unlol
and undreamed of amount of suffering wi
be fond and, when found, the remedy
at hand Wait not 10 be startled by Il
terrible tale Of tins one pclishing fro
cold or another from hunger. Let not I'll
favored, christian community, be indelibl
stained with the disgrace OF such neglec
Give al once, give rs ye have been pro
pered, give cheerfuly not grndsinslY, CIV
beautifully not stingiy, give heartily II
coldly, give as if We believe that you hea
tho Great Judge whispering 10 your hea
''Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one
the least of these my brethren, yr ha
done it unto me"