Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-12-10
CHARITY.
cleanliness.

Tho blessing Of giving is tvo-fold bles.
sing. as it biesses those who give rs vel! as
those who receive. To give is God-li ; to
withhold and, hoard, to pile up riches, is
human. He who has ga tear for pity. and q
hand open as day for melting charity" is the
man into whose life path most sunshine falls,
and along whose way the choicest flowers bios.
SOM Winter is the season Of Charity. In
spring and summer, W hon al the earth is full of
sunshine and beauty when the genial suusheds
Its warmth freely on ALL the poor can live;
but when the chi ling blasts of winter come,
and the ice-cold fingers pinch tbe meagre
limbs; when fuel is hard to pro cure it is then
that from all over our land goes up the cry
for help. II sounds in our ears to- day, and
our own poor knock with starving hands at
The doors of our hearts, seeking admission
there. We are too apt to feel for people that
We cannot reach, to waste our sympathics on
the far distant poor, and in our far-reaching
vision overlook our home poor. But you
may answer, we have no poor" This is
not true. They may hide their poverty, or
rfther try to hide it, but it speaks: from the
pinched features, from the hungry looking
eyes, from the sunken cheek and the tremb>
ling hands The thread-bare shawl, the worn
shoes. the patohe ed and faded dress speak with
silent but eloquent tongues to the eye. From
beside your own bright hearth-stoue turn for
n moment to the cold hearth>st one Of the
poor. From the castles built by your fancy
in the glowing Goals turn to the howell of your
neighbor, and from out Of your bountiful
s.ore, all God-givsa, give with .uassinting
hand to Gods poor; for We are bot Stew
ards OF the treasures Ged has committed to
eur hands, and be who withholds from tho
suffering is trying to rob God. He who
eiveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord" and
all nature teaches the lesson of giving.
500 the rivers flowing downward to the Sea.
Pouring all their treasures bountiful and flee;
Or If iced be. sno ers feed them from the skies.
Watch the prinsely flowers their rich II agraneo
Lead the air with perfumes from their beauty
shed:
let their lavish spending leaves them not in
With fresh life replenishsd from their mother
earth.
Give thy hearts best treasure-from fair nature
Eive thy love, and ask not, want not . return,
And the moro thou spendest from thy little
With q double bounty God will give thee more"
Once more we feel called upon to compli>
nent our home artisans on their skill aud
taste. The improvements just completed in
our Court, Room call for our loudest praise,
and hear,iest commentator of the designer
and contractor. Mr.. Julius G. Holmes
contracted for the work, and with his usual
energy has thrown bis whole soul into exc.
cutting the excellent designs of Mr.. Baldwin
the Baltimore architect, and the result is very
gratifying. The plastering and stucco work,
by Mr.. c. F. Gallaher, shows the touch of
master hand. Mr.. Juo. o. johnson and
the Taylor Brothers have completed the.
frescoing in a workman like manner, and de-
serve great credit for their work. The
changes made in the arrangement of the bar,
jury box, &c., are excellent. We take pleas
ure in adding our second to the motion of
the Free Press for chandelier. Give US q
little more light on the County Court, gem
tlemen.
P. S.-Since writing the above, we under.
stand that a chandelier has been ordered by
the Committee.
We acknowledge the reception, from DR..
Robert F. Baldwin, of a copy of the Reports
of the Va. Western Lunatic Asylum for
1s77-7S.