Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-03-14
HELPING THE POOR.
How Roger ITOpeWeIl HELPED "OId
BWeeEer" 90 Help Himself


BweeEer" 90 Help Himself.
Roger Hopewell had no intention of help
ing the poor. He would not knowingly in
jure them. Something Of his nature his
name expressed; he hoped every one would
get on well. As for helping those who did
not, he had never done it and he never felt
distinctly and strongly that he ought to. OF
New England birth, Roger Hopewell had
New England virtues He was industrious,
frugal, upright. After 25 years of close at
tention to business these virtues had gather
ed moderate wealth. One winter evening,
alone in the library Of his city home, he
drifted into the determination to make a new
home for himself in the country. In time
this determination was carried into effect
Roger Hopewelrs new home was farm near
a thriving New England village. 1t was well
divided between woodland pasturage and
arabic land. The house, plain, square, had
latent possibilities of comfort in it.
On the farm, when it became his, on a cross
road, sheltered by the railway embankment,
was a neglected, decaying one story house.
unpainted, windows broken, shingles and
clapboards of and loose. Chips, dirt, dogs
and fowls the surroundings. The place
truthfully reported the inmates For many
years a poor man with his ever increasing
family had occupied it. Everybody in the
town knew "Old Sweezer." Every body
holped support him in one way or another
Shittessness was embodied in him and his
family. His fellow townsmen had long des
paired of any change for the better in him
or his. Mr.. Hopewells first impulse was to
turn old Sweezer and family out Of the house,
and pull it down and make the place tidy.
Another impulse appeared-a surprise to Mr..
Hopewell-an impulse to attempt the refOr-
nation of the man and his family. 1t must
be confessed that considerable pleasure was
anticipated from the novel experiment. There
was also good share of right feeling in it,
Roger Hopewell had never renowned the
teaching Of his carly and simple days. In
his long business career he had not intention
ally disowned the duty of being his brothers
keeper. Still, he could not recall a persist
ent, earnest effort to help q needy fellow.
Was it not about time for somebody to do it?
There fell into his hands, years before, a
small pamphlet, The Jukes :" it told the
mischief, cost, crime resulting from single
neglected girl. The whole force of the book
bore upon him when considering what to do
with old Sweezer and his family. If he
could reform him, what evil might be pre-
vented He would make the attempt. 1t
was on this wise:
Old Sweezer's trouble was chronic aver
sion to continuous labor. He would do an
odd job in passabe way, if it did not take
long. Even ct haying time he never worked
three consecutive days. He was no longer
young, and the habit was we'll established
when he fell into Mr.. Hopewolrs hands.
One day Mr.. Hopewel called 'Old Swee-
ger" as he was passing had long talk with
him asked about the people who lived and
had lived in that region. The man was quite
astonished that the rich gentleman from the
city was so agreeable familiar. Sweezer. If
be ever thought, might have thought that
hara pnigbt ba M a f,lana pf Guptoly To-
his wants, but the improvident fellow never
thought so far ahead. Mr.. Hopewell took
the man into his confidence told him the
changes he intended TO make, into what diff.
ferent state he hoped to bring the ground
about the house, and asked who could do the
work. Sweezer didn't seem to know any
body who worked Finally, Mr. Hopewell
proposed that Sweezer himself do it. After
some hesitation he promised to come in the
morning and begin. Mr.. Hopewell met him,
| aud they worked together more or less for q
day or two. When Mr.. Hopewell left him,
he marked out definite work to be done, which
was seldom well done. Our laborer bore
| bravely the fault found with it. Good work
beside it exposed its deficiencies and put
them beyond question. He began himself
to be something of a critic, to know a good
thing when he saw it, and consequently to
| have certain satisfaction in what he did
well. Once he was commended in a very
generous way. The old man was quite be-
side himself. Years after he would say
"Tho praise of that city fellow made new
man of me-" At the end Of the first week
Mr.. Hopewell paid Sweezer, deducting moth
| ing for the hours he had been away. II he
had received a kingdom he could not have
| been more surprised. SO much money he
had not seen for years. Mr. Hopewell nc
ticed the pleased, proud expression on old
Sweezer's face. He had never seen it before.
1t was the quickened manhood within that
made the face so different. II was ft time
for another effort
"Sweezer, let's see I've paid you for six
days work; nine dollars. What are you 60
ing to do with II 2"
"spend it. Isn't that what you do with
the money you make p
II don't spend it all"
''If you don't spend it what do you do with
it2' asked the poor man, his mind strug-
Cling with the new idea.
II put it away in bank"
"Would you have me put mine into a
bank ?" The picture of himself depositing
money in a bank quite overcame him.
"shall tell you, Sweezer, what to do with
your money"
Certainly, sir"
"Well, you've earned nine dollars. Give
me four, Keep five, and divide it with your
wife when you go home. One thing more
promise to tell me how you spend your half
when pay you next Saturday"
This was agreed to. Old Sweezer bade Mr..
Hopewell good bye, taking off his hat-or
what was in place of a hat. He walked
homeward. He bore himself like a conquer
or, He stepped into the wretched house
looked for his wife Eliza. Once she had
hated dirt and loved thrift no neater ser
want was there in all the region than Eliza
White, who lived for years with Judge Stiles
10 the village. She married Sweezer, fol
lowed his ways till, dispirited, she seemed
content to live and die in want and filth.
Lie !" said Sweezer. Whose voice was
it? 1t fell upon Eliza's ear, who was out fol
wood, carrying her back straightway over al
the sad, wretched years to her young days
when, living at the judges Sweezer used Il
call her 30. She came in bringing the wood
dropped it, stood silent, amazed. 1t was no
that an angel had come in upon her wha
was more wonderful had happened. "Iize
here are two dollars and a half for you. III
a long while since have given you any mon
ey-a long while since I've had any to give
= Mr.. Hopewell paid me tonight, paid me fo
six full days; and l was behind time twic
or more. Lie, when took the nine dollar
in my hand and was sure had earned it
such feeling came over mel Didn't l once
long ago, hear a preacher say something
about new heart? Well, Lize, felt as il
: new heart grew all at once in the old one ant
! broke out from it, You don't know how tn
blood rushed all through me didn't know
who l was but felt wasn't old Sweezer an,
| Ionoar Inst than whan I WAS In a kind q