Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1874-03-16

at the beginning.
"During the week, =" said Jack, I'VE will look
up the cases of destitution and suffering, and
on next SATURDAY afternoon we will meet and
compare notes. Then we will take our ten
dollars and do what we can for those who are
suffering most. We must be methodlcal in
inis
We are not to spend penny In this work Of
charity which Is not saved by the cutting oil of
some useless expenditure Of our own anu
he Of us who buys cigar through the week
shall deduct 1t from his contribution on Satur-
day."
If we would be methodical,' suggested Pet
er, I'VE must organize. say If We are going
10 do anything Of this kind, let us do 1t ship
shape"
Peters proposition was unanimously accep-
ted, and thereupon they proceeded to effect an
organization, very simple, but nevertheless ef-
fectlve.
They elected John Digby to serve as presi-
dent, and as treasurer, and as secretary and
then they elected an executive committee OF
four, conslsti ng of John Digby. Peter Slade,
Thomas Lowden and Samuel Pepper
And then they settled their bills at
The bar and went home.'
Saturday evening came, and the reform club
met at Digby's shop, and each member Was
ready with his report.
They were sober and thoughtful. They
had thought, when they had separated on Mon
day evening, that they should meet with the
spirit Of frolic In their new work, but the
scenes which they had witnessed in the ipte-
rim had changed the currenHof their feelings
entirely.
'My soul,' exclaimed Sam Pepper, | never
dreamed what sorrow aud suffering there was
right here In Four little town. Last night |
went down to the widow Bashlots. and found
her with sick cnid, absolutely freezing and
starving"
old Uncle Ben Drscoll and his wife both
in the same plight. The old man is down with
the rheumatism, and when be and Aunt Sally
cried like babies with fear Of going to the
poor house, l tell you ii brought the tears to
my eyes,"
planned how they could best use their ten dol
lars.
SET against all the suffering ard want they had
| found but IL would do something.
On that Saturday1evening the Widow Bash
lot bent over the bed Of her sick child with
weeping and walls Of anguish. The howlong
blast piped without, and the keen frost nipped
| within. She suffered because she had not yet
brought herselfto beg. For herself, she would
rather die than become pauper; but for her
child-"Oh, God have inercy!"
4
| lps. when the tramp Of feet at her door attrac-
ted her attention, and presentlya gentle rap
| followed She answered the summons and foun
F. four Young men upon the stoOp. She knew
them well. for they had been school mates
with her son, who had gone away TO sea and
never returned. And they came into the house;
and they brought with them wood and pro-
visions: and they piled up the fuel upon the
hearth until the bright flame leaped and roared
aud the sick child stretched out its wasted
arms to embrace the genial warmth. And they
brought forth bread, and tea, and sugar, and
butter, and cheese.
.AIi right" said Sam Pepper, who regarded
these as bis especial charges, in answer 10 the
widows ejaculation Of amazement. I'VE are
John Digby's reform club; aud we are going
into the missionary work; and such folks as
you are we want 10 convett-want 10 convert
YOU from suffering to comfort II we can. Sc
gS9a you'd s' 90 for you wha
lived. It'll be comfort for US. Wen call oitef
You shan't want If we can help it,"
The WIDOWS sobbing, bursting return ol
gratitude, and her eager, heart-sent prayer o
blessing cannot be reproduced by tongue oil
pen. When the young men had reached the
highway, Sam Pepper hurst forth
"I3oys, rs sure as Heaven, would not ex-
change the blessing Of that poor widows hear
for ali the Joy that ever came IN the old wa.
at the tavern. 1nere something more tnai
fun In this"
And his companions agreed with him. Ii
another part ofthe town, on the outskirts oftht
village, In q poor, thatched but lived Ben Dris
coll and his wife Sally.
In other days they had been well and happy
and, though never forehanded, yet they ha
never known want, until cid age aud sicknes
had deprived them of the ability 10 work
And on this cold winters night Uncle Ben ar
. | il,, and oh rod ha hnr Z
such poor stuff as they had been able to gath'
from the snow covered hedges, and the old ma
:, sighed when he thought Of the aims house.
"If we could only get through the summe
But who's TO help usp"
And Uncle Ben and his wife were arOust
from their stupor OF chill and hunger by Il
u tramp of feet and the hum of voices and We
shortly the door Of their cabin was opened, a.
John Dlgby AVID his companions entered.
:. fire speedily blazed upon tho hearth, and go
y store of provisions was opened upon the tab
The old man wondered, and Tom Lcwu
:" made answer:
ats ali right Uncle Ben. This is Jack ID
10 by's reform club. We've stopped our rations
spirits and tobacco, and are going to Invest
. result In missionary enterprise. We want
convert you and Aunt Sally, If we can"
"Convert us, Tom ?"
save, convert you to comfort and pPac
III and perhaps, also convert you TO the belief y
there's q grain OF good in humanity still
We mean to take you In hand this winter, and y
r. shant suffer If we can help it,"
m The boys didn't leave the cot until they !
o. helped the aged couple to hearty meal, a
had piled up fuel enough TO last until they ca
again and when they finally withdrew
re song Of blessing was sounding in their ears.
I'D And so the reformers went on until I'll
70 nights work was done, and when they came
to separate, they declared that they had fou
TX such enjoyment as they had never known
=, fore.
ed During the second week, three new mt
bers were added to the club-men who W
Y" willing to cut off expenses for rum and toba
and devote tile proceeds to the relief Of the p
and distressed Of the town.
Aud ere long Digby's reform club becam
noted institution In the town. Tha PROV
ors thereof could hardly credit the evide
OF thcir own senses in contemplating the res
up OF three months labor. Two and TIVE
members had joined, and the fund for re
u" amounted to almost forty dollars a week,
each man was pledged to pay In weekly
ot- exact sum his spirits and tobacco had {
him, If he continued to use tobacco, he toe
'e', lower place in the company, and the us
lno spirits as beverage was sufficient cause
ss' expulsion. When people saw the great
that was being done, they were anxious to {
:. their aid and be counted in with the ma
liar crew; but the laws of the club were fixed
my money could come to Its fund except sucl
had been saved TO the donor from the cong
of some evil habit or the cutting oil of >,
useless luxury.
ten 1t was bright Sabbath in the sprng-ti
ned and It had been talked that Pars0n Meekly
10 going to preach asermon upon Digby's rel
10 club, and the old meeting house was lille
out overfowing. The clergyman read his text I
tii- St. Johu's Gospel-"Can there any good
of eoma on, ot Nazarpfb9 Come and see"
e. yha,, ha had told The story of ID gbys club
and n,c,,,rad the GOOD results of its iabors, he
DOOR clsimed 10 aII.-uGo We and do lkew ise."
Our ,.-L. - hia ,o,nna, rint q