Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-05-17

EkS H suoh in black and
Ssalia s& white, for tho ad-
miration not merely OF contemporaries
but of gonoratipps yet TO come; tho
approved preliminary in most cases
being long SUBSCRIPTION list. headed
by tho namo of tho largeat and most
influential giver, in the hopo of stimu-
lating tho rost to ego and do likewise"
by this insidious appeal to their appro-
bativeness.
Then, when sufficient means havo
thus boon raised for gliding tho copper
tca-kettlo of tho meeting-houso kitohon
or whatever other desirable object
may chance Mt tho time to lilo nearest
tho philnnthropio heart-tho soul
cheoring Intelligence must duly DO
pHraded before nm approciative public
by mid of tho press, to say nothing of
society, statistics, duly reported, chron-
iclod and carefully preserved, nnd tho
objective circulating medium found In
tho roady clack of feminine tongues
with an accompaniment in rumbling
bass by male gossips.
Very little old-fashioncd back door
giving is dono nowadays, unloss it bo
among tho poor, who run to tho dis.
trcsscd noighbor with thoir slender
offerings and henrty II wish it was
more" whilo tho bliss of bong nblo to
do oven TINT much shines in thoir oyos
and beams III their countonnnoos, till
tho lovo-soasonod trillo becomes to tho
recipient worth ton-fold moro than tho
Tar oostlior donation dotted out to tbom
by tho duly appointed "Almoncr of tho
Red-tape Relief Society for Aiding tho
Really Grateful and Worthy and Dos
tituto Poor" AS surely aa "lovo bo-
gots love- just as surely will loving
charity begot loving gratitude.
Not thnt wo would condemn system-
attic bonoyolonco. Far DO TINT from
us. Unquostionably the most far
reaching and iudicious charities aro
those which nro thoroughly aystom-
atizod. And doubtless many persons
are enlisted and do valuable service in
benevolent corporations who would
nevor lift n finger or givo dino, wcro
IL left optional with tho promptings of
thcir sluggish nnturos and selfish hcnris
to do or not to do what Job snys ho
did. (Sce l,ool! of Job Yxix, lG.)
But bo tho charity private or pub
lie, individual or corporate, tho primo
aim and object should invariably bo
tho good of the beneficiary, whilo his
gratitude and tho praise of lookcrs-on
should sink out OF sight. Perhaps L
had best illustrate what / menn by re-
lating M incident vory much to tho
point.
gentleman who, through confirmed
and protrncted ill-hoalth, had boon ro.
duccd to want, was kindly niAl libor-
ally aided by IN ostimablo fraternity.
His gratitude was deep and heartfelt
though perhaps not III effnsiyely OK
pressed rs might have been tho case
with Bomc-as months lcngthenod into
years, and their noblo generosity still
provided food and sholtcr, and, nt ono
limo, even procured him medical skill.
But his natural Independence md (bo
ii whispored) some of tho attendant
circumstances which ever conspire to
make it loss blessed to receive than to
give. rendered him glipcrlntively CRATE
ful to tho Givcr of nll good whom, tardy
health returning, ho was enabled once
more to earn his own broad and to bo
his own MASTER
Several years of solf-supporting lifo
had quietly slipped away when mem
Dor of the fraternity, accidentally meet
ing him. took occasion plcnsantly to
remind him Of past favors, and sug-
gosted that ho publicly acknowledge
and express gratitude for tho same.
With startled look, tho man replied:
Il have expressed my gratitude again
and again in the past"
"Yes," answered his benofactor, "to
single individuals, but not to tho fra
ternity rs n whole"
Comment is needless. We would do
we'll to discourage in ourselves n NOR
bid thirst for thanks, remembering
that tho bread of dependence is to the
recipient but bitter eating Mt the best.
Therefore let us rather "do good nnd
cast it into tho sea-" What "if the
fishes do not see it; God will"--which
wo reverently supplement with tho
words of the Divine Master: "And
thy Father which seeth in secret will
reMnrd thee onnnly ~ -Ghicnnn Iolnn,.