New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-30
FAI7H AND CHARITY.

Here is n little story which came to us the
other day, and which, if it is not news, either
political or marketable, has the merit, which
news rarely claims, of being absolutely true.
Near neighboring city there is D little house,
I'M asylum for children founded by one or two
good women, and kept up from day to day
by voluntary contributions 1t ~ n rule with
these women never to ask for help in their
work from anybody except that One who has
promised to care for the fathcrlcss child.
Business men are apt to look upon tins sy5-
TEN of faith and prayer and charity as an in
secure sort of capital; yet it is a curious fact
that two of the largest orphan asylums in the
country are supported in this way, and have
increased until thousands of helpless little
ones have been sheltered and fed and clothed
in them, during years in which the shrewdest
business men have seen their fortunes wrecked
Mt that i'm the most careful and safest invest
ments.
A Winter or two ago the director of this
little home issued statement of her receipts
and expenditures for the satisfaction of those
who had given help to it during the year. 1t
fell into the hands of wealthy man living
some miles away from the home, who glanced
over it and thew it aside. 30 hep was
asked, and it did not occur to him to offer
any. month or two later, one bitter night,
the manager found herself absolutely without
"a morsrl of food TO give the children for break
fast. There was not even -four nor bread III the
house. Institutions of a similar kind have
their settled funds from which to draw, or
friends to whom to appeal. These women had
no money, and but the one Friend to whom to
turn. The night was stormy, it was late the
children would waken hungry their hearts
almost failed them. But they went to their
Friend. Before they rose from their knees
carriage drove to the door, from which when
they went ont the coachman-without a word
began to unpack meat, bread, provisions
of every kind Bundles of clothing followed.
Ii was like fairy-tale or one of Dickens's
Christmas stories AT last lady held out an
envelope in which was "A bank note for a sub
stamtial sum, and the carriage drove away
through the snow without word being spoken.
All this was mysterious enough. But the
explanation was simple. The banker was toast
ing his feet before going to bed at his library
fire, thinking how glad he was to be indoors,
when his daughter came in and said, after the
was outside and how warm and coy she had
been in her own chamber, and how it had set
her to thinking of people who were cold and
hungry, and that she thought she could sleep
better if she could make some one who needed
help as warm and happy as herself The
father was practical min. lie remembered
the little home for children, but told her to-
morrow would be time enough to look it up.
The daughter was impractical, and insisted
that tonight was the time The water began
to come into her eyes. So the father gave no,
of course, and put the note in the envelope as
his contribution to the foolish adventure.
We do not tell the story aS an appeal for
this asylum, for 1t does not ask for help. But
there are children who are orphans, and hun
CRY children, and children who need help in
soul and body, and mothers praying God for
help for them everywhere. They are close to
our readers, wherever they may be, and now
il the time TO help them, not tomorrow.
The story seems to belong to Winter weather
and Christmas. But the little children are
here with the roses AZ with the snow, aud