Frostburg mining journal., 1889-05-04

miration not merely of contemporaries
but of generations yet to come; the
approved preliminary in most cases
being long subscription list, headed
bv the name of the largest and mos,
influential giver, in the hope of stlmu.
lating the rest to go and do likewise,
by this ins;dious appeal to their Nppro-
bativCness.
Then, when sufficient means have
thus been raised for gliding the copper
tea kettle of the meeting house kitchen
or whatever other desirable object
may chance at the time to lie nearest
the philanthropic heart-the soul
cheering Intelligence must duly ho
para led before an appreC iative public
by aid OF the press, to say nothing OF
society, statistics, duly reported, chron-
icled and carefullJ preserved. and the
effective circulating medium found In
the ready clack of feminine tongues,
with an accompaniment IN rumbllng
bass by male gossips.
Very little old-fashioned back door
giving is done nova days, unless it be
among the poor, who run to the dis
trcssed neighbor with their slender
offerings and hearty Il wish it was
more" while the bliss of being able to
do even that much shines in their eyes
and beams in their countenance', till
the love-sclsoned trihc becomes to the
recipient worth ten-fold more than the
far costlier donation dotted out to them
by the duly apI ointed "AlmOncr of tie
Red-tape Relief Society for Aiding tho
Really Grateful and Worthy and Dei-
titute Poor" As surely as "love be
gets love, Just as surely will loving
charity bcgat loving gratitude.
Not that VIC would condemn system
attic benevolcnce. Far be that from
us. Unluestionably the most far
reaching and judicious charities are
those which are thoroughly system
atized. And doubtless many persons
are enlisted and do valuable service in
benevolent corporations who would
never lift finger or give dime, were
it left optional with the promptingS of
their sluggish natures and selfish hearts
to do or not to do what Job says he
did. tSee Book of Job MIX, 49,
But be the charity private or pub
lie, individual or corporate, the prime
aim and object should invariably be
the good of the beneficiary, while his
gratitude AMI the praise of lockers on
should sink out OF sight. Perhaps |
had best illustrate what | mean by re-
lating an incident very much to the
point.
A gent eman who, through confirmed
and protractcd ill-health, had been re
duced to want was kindly and liher-
ally aided by an estimable fraternity.
His gratitude was deep and heartfelt
tt ough perhaps not as etfuslvely eX-
pressed rs might have been the case
with some-as months heightened into
years, an their noble generosity still
provided food and shelter, and, at ono
time, even procured him medical skill.
But his natural Independence and (be
it whisperedD some of the attendant
! circumstances which ever conspire to
make it less blessed to receive than to
| give, rendered him superlative!y CRATE
full to the Giver of all good when, tardy
health returning, he was enabled once
more to earn his own bread and to 10
his own master.
Several years of self-supporting life
had quietly slipped away when a mem
Der OF the fraternity, accidentally meet
ing him. took occasion pleasantly to
remind him Of past favors, and sug-
gested that he publ ely acknowledge
and express gratitude fyr the same.
With startled look, the man replied :
81 have expressed my gratitude again
and again in the past"
"Yes," answered his benefactor, "to
single individuals, bat not to the fra
ternity as a whole.
Comment is needless. We would do
we'll to discourage in ourselves a NOR
bid thirst for thanks, remembering
that the bread of dependence is to the
recipi,n mt but bitter eating a. the best.
Therefore let us rather "do good and
cast it into the sea- What IF the
fishes do not see it; God will which
we reverently supplement with the
words of the Divine Master: And
thy Father which seeth in secret will