Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-03-24
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TENDERNESS AND LIBERALITY.

What is charity? This question was put to
little girl, and her reply was, "Giving to
the poor what we do not want for ourselves"
Her answer was, undoubtedly, given from OBJ
seryation for children are observing crea.
lures, more so than we always give them cred.
it for. Often we hear and say, if not in words,
by our actions, ut is only little child; it
will not notice or remember" and yet all the
while they are receiving impressions from
which they draw their own differences and
definitions of what grown people do and say.
Is it not too often the case that we give
them good cause to define the word charity as
the little girl did? When. we attempt to give
the poor anything, are we not apt to select
those things that we consider worn out, or per-
haps fit so badly that we want them out of the
way? If we have things we do not want, it
is all right to let those have them who need
them and will use them. But if our charity
extends no further than this, how much of the
genuine article do we possess
Many years ago merchant was passing
along one of the streets of large city. 1t
was a cold. dark, wintry night; but what
cared he for the cold, even though the snow
was falling thick and fast around him? His
costly overcoat was buttoned close. and his
hands were encased in gloves that de6ed the
bitter winds.
From the cold, marble steps of building
he was passing, little girl clothed (if you
can call it clothed) in few scanty rags, ex-
tended a thin, cold hand, and in faint, pteous
tones begged for "onIy ont, penny"
The merchant passed on, nor needed the
piteous pleading of the homeless one.
He was on his way to a meeting called to
devise ways and means to relieve the suffer
ings of the poor, AS he passed on he said to
himself, "Yes. it will be as good All invest
ment as can make. 1t will be good ad
vertisement for my business, and will pay a
big profit; for, if to night give $500 to the
committee for the poor, it will come out in the
morning papers with big puff My name
will stand high, and many new customers will
be sure to patronize the merchant who was so
generous to the poor"
He reached the place of meeting and gave
his hundreds of dollars for the poor; but was
there any real charity about it? No. Itwas
simply selfish transaction to gain more
money and big name for himself The
morning papers came out with a glowing ac-
count Of the large,hearted charity of the mer-
chant
Following the lengthy report of the meet
ing for the benefit of the poor, he saw an item
stating that little girl was found dead under
the snow at the foot of the steps leading to
the bank building on - street.
Many seem to think that charity is simply
the giving of our goods to the poor and the
needy, but Webster defines the word with
three others tenderness, goodwill and lib.
erality." Tenderness! I am glad that word
is put in as one definition of the word chari.
ty, that we may show true charity by throw
ing cloak over the faults of others, and try
ing to bring to light their virtues.
In an old book I read that "Cbarity suffer-
eth long, and is kind; charity envieth not
is not pufed up. And now abideth, faith,
hope and charity, these three, but the great.
est of these is charity. And above all things
have charity among yourselves. ."-Housshold.