Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-04-19


miration not merely of contemporaries
but of generations yet to come; the
approved preliminary in most cases
being long subscription list, headed
by the name of the largest and most
influential giver, in the hope of stimu-
lating the rest to Ego and do likewise"
by this insidious appeal to their appro-
bativeness.
Then, when sufficient means have
thus been raised for gliding the copper
tea-kettle of the Westinghouse kitchen
or whatever other desirable object
may chance at the time to lie nearest
the philanthropic heart-the soul
cheering intelligence must duly be
paraded before an appreciative public
by aid of the press, to say nothing of
society, statistics, duly reported, chron-
icled and carefully preserved, and the
effective circulating medium found in
the ready clack of feminine tongues,
with an accompaniment in rambling
bass by male gossips.
Very little old-fashioned back-door
giving is done nowadays, unless it be
among the poor, who run to the dis
tressed neighbor with their slender
offerings and hearty II wish it was
more, while the bliss of being able to
do even that much shines in their eyes
and beams in their countenances, till
the love-seasoned trife becomes to the
recipient worth ten-fold more than the
far costlier donation dotted out to them
by the duly appointed "Almoner Of the
Red-tape Relief Society for Aiding the
Really Grateful and Worthy and Des-
titute Poor" As surely as Glove be-
gets love-" just as surely will loving
charity beget loving gratitude.
Not that we would condemn system
attic benevolence. Far be that from
us. Unquestionably 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. (See Book of Job XXX, 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 and the praise Of lookers-on
should sink out of sight. Perhaps I
had best illustrate what mean by re-
lating an incident very much to the
point.
A gentleman who, through confirmed
and protracted il-health, had been re.
duced to want, was kindly and iber
ally aided by an estimable fraternity
His gratitude was deep and heartfelt
though perhaps not as effusively ex
pressed as might have been the cas-,
with some-as months heightened into
years, and their noble generosity still
provided food and shelter, and, at one
time, even procured him medical skill.
But his natural independence and (be
it whispered some Of the attendant
circumstances which ever conspire to
make it less blessed to receive than to
give, rendered him superlatively CRATE
full to the Oliver of all good when, tardy
health returning, he was enabled once
more to earn his own bread and to be
his own master.
Several years of self-supporting life
had quietly slipped away when mem
Der Of the fraternity, accidentally meet
ing him, took occasion pleasantly to
remind him of past favors, and sug-
gested that he publicly acknowledge
and express gratitude for the same.
With startled look, the man replied /:
II have expressed my gratitude again
and again in the past"
"Yes," answered his benefactor, Ito
single individuals, but not to the fra
! ternity as 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
recipient but bitter eating at the best.
Therefore let us rather "do good and
cast it into the sea-" What eff 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
reward thee openly" -Chicago Ledger.
n.