Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-02-17
Tenderness and LIberaIIty.

What is charity? This question was
put to a little girl, and her reply was,
9 Giving to the poor what we do not
want for ourselves" Her answer was,
undoubtedly, given from observation;
for children are observing creatures,
more SO than we always give them credit
for. Often we hear and say, if not in
words, by our actions, "It Is only lit
tie child, it will not notice or remem-
her," and yet al the while they are re-
ceiving 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 char
ity as the little girl did? When we at
tempt to give the poor anything are we
not apt to select those things that we
consider worn out, or perhaps fit so badly
that we want them out of the way? IL
we have things we do not want it is all
right to let those have them who need
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 pass
ing along one of the streets of large
city. 1t was 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 bnttoned close, and his hands were
encased in gloves that defed the bitter
winds
From the cold, marble steps of build
ing he was passing little girl clothed
Off you can call it clothed) in few scanty
rags, extended thin cold hand, and in
faint, piteous tones, begged for "only
one penny"
The merchant passed on, nor needed
the piteous pleading of the homeless one.
He was ON his way to meeting called
to devise ways and means to relieve the
suiferings of the poor AS he passed Oh
he said to himself, Eyes, it will be as
good an investment as / can make. II
will be o good advertisement for my
business, and will pay big profit; for,
if tonight I give $500 to the committee
for the poor, it viii come ont 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 il?
No 1t was simply selfish transaction
to gain more money and big name for
himself. The morning papers came out
with glowing account of the large
hearted charity of the merchant
Following the lengthy report of the
meeting for the benefit Of the poor was
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 needy, but Webster defines the
word with three others, tenderness.
good will, and liberality" Tenderness!
/ am glad that word is put in as one def
milton to the word charity, that we may
show true charity by throwing cloak
over the fault of others, and trying to
bring to light their virtues.
In an old book / read that "Charity
suffereth long, and is kind; charity en-.
yieth not--is not puffed up. And now
abideth faith, hope, charity, these three.
but the greatest Of these is charity AnG
above all things have charity among
yourselves. - Correspondent an House.
hold