The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-04-28
CHARITY.
WVktSs BY }. N EMERSON At THE
ORPHANS BENEFIT.


iha'e cnoso" ior my subject one that
many may think should be cast inside "a
too ancient and worn to be used and
one that perhaps some may listen IN
only under protest. But nv hearers
although there are thousand discor.
dant elements within the human breast.
] am proud to assert, and with conf
dence, that all Intelligent and thinking
men agree that charity Is commendable,
We. of course, acknowledge that the
giver deserves credit according to the
circumstances Under which he extends
his charity.
Strictly speaking, there is no such act
as selfish charity, beeause If a person
gives from a purely polite motive or for
any manner OF personal profit, he is
simply working for hinself, expecting
n return for his outlay and IL such a
person could be honest With himself he
would charge the amountso given either
to his advertising or lexpense account.
lie should certainly neg expect the
great book-keeper above 10 place any
thing to his credit. The best friend
man can have is a clear toscience, and
there are no actions irA or life span
which we An look back spa with the
same degree of satisfaction as upon
charities that we have e@elded with
hearty good will to our suilehng fellows.
As we realize the nearnessofAe dark
and perpetual night of DEATH GU terri
fled thoughts are sure to grab b, incl
dents along the roadway oflliie from
which we can draw some comfortin,h
our awful extremity. DO you thinA for
one moment that the rejected appea of
the poor suffering child would contribute
to cheer our last moments. No, nv
friend, 1t would be remembered ohh
with remorse. Little circumstance
frequently change the history Of human
life, and who can say that the refusal Of
a small pittance to the man that beg
for bread may afterward force the Stat
to add another to its list of oonvicts
Then il matters little whether the tern
of his confinement be long or short, h
generally comes out an enemy to sooiet
and a moral wreck.
The poor and struggling workman
who with his large family and many I'm
supplied wants, must indeed have
kind heart as he takes from his poke
the few remaining pieces of silver an
gives for sweet charity's sake. G
course, he could not have selfish motive
under such circumstances. Perhaps
thinks of his own dear ones and ash
himself what would become of thei
should he be taken suddenly from then
Methinks that to receive charity frol
such a hand should be no hardship
Indeed, the feelings of both might }
envied by their more fortunate neigl
bors.
Take in contrast the man who h;
sufficient means to make number
persons wealthy, he looks up with
frown very much as though If it WEI
not for popular opinion he would chang
the term sweet to sour charity, ut lea
his face would so indicate. Sudden
his face relaxes and assumes a special
put up to order smile as he remembe
that It would not be wise to aiiront tn
person as he occupies n respectable pos
tion in society. So it wouldn't do, yo
know. He then asks about how much
wanted, and should the amount name
be reasonable he gives 1t with the air
a sanity martyr. But he seldom max
mistake by giving more than is aske
After this disagreeable part is over
: sometimes warns up little, and
very ready with advice, which frequer
ly, iftaken, would require much healt
Ter donations than his own. This mi
has a soul so small that it could dance
a needles point and receive simil
, partues for all the time, and eyCskR
: they could make no complaint1orMa
/ of room. He little cares about the Co
ditlon or necessity of his petitioner.
only remembers that he has lost just
much money and mentally harbt
I thoughts that he would dislike to ha
appear in the morning paper. u
n friend now works industriously upon
;. occasions to let people know what
good and charitable man he is.
!, Men of small and narrow natures Q
"a not comprehend how such a man
: George Peabody could spend thousar
n and millions Of dollars among the II
I, people In the world, from whom
4 could expect to receive farthing In
turn. An appeal to the selfish man n
9 the little unknown beggar would be
y vain. You may say, how can man
- sist the heartbroken pleadings of
little child, for instance, who, look
up timidly his face, sobs out, Oh Mist
for the love of God and for the sak'
poor mama, who Is dying, because
I'd have had nothing to eat, do give, pie
70 help us, be it ever SO little, we shall,
70 deed, be thankful. God will bless .
et for II, as he knows our great need; |
as the little one stretches out her treI
ty ling hand from under a tattered sh
:. and looks timidly Into his face, he
~ patiently motions her away, and wit
d grOwl tells this poor waif that the STR
he are full of beggars, and as she furt
he implores for a little of that money
ar which she knows he has plenty, an
he spare, he answers her agonized apl
an by threatening to have her arreste,
81 a vagrant; and having been told by
,er mother that they who have no mo
and no visible means of support
90 classed as Migrants. the poor frighte
. nj child, thinking at such a fate Is los
me sight in some dark street of the g
city. She continues to aecost I
ION passer-by, and at each refusal she mo
ooe tWhat shall do? What can dor
The poor mother will starve." Some