Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-05-31
ZONE OF OUR OWN FOLKS
A beautiful Example OF Christian
Charlty-The Ex-ConvIct
Given a Home.

Modern Philanthropy abouuds in
maxims for the treatment of the un-
fortunate. One of the best known
) the statement that help must not
be given without Investigation. The
experience of all charitable associ-
atoms bears it out, and in the major
ity of cases it is undoubtedly a good
working rule. Occasionally, however,
one comes upon case in which the
old-fashioned, impulsive human SYM
patty is extended with such splendid
results that the rule, wholesome and
necessary as it is, seems useless and
heartless.
Frank Harrison was just recover
ing from pneumonia, and was dis
charged from the hospital of the
state prison on the day when his
three-years' sentence expired He
coughed heavily as he came into the
Office of the Massachusetts, Prison
association and asked for help and
work. The secretary was sorry for
him, and dreaded to tell him that she
had neither to offer r.m: vet there
was no fund from which she could
give him financial aid. and at the mo-
ment no position 20 which she could
recommend him.
"You come back here this after
noon" she said. land I'll see if I can
do something for you:" and she
smothered the hope that he would
not come.
So Harrison be+oolS himself to one
of the benches on re common and
sat in the sun and tried to forget his
cough and his despair.
Presently pleasant. elderly wom-
an seated herself beside him. 1t was
not long before she remarked his
cough.
Young man. YOU ought 20 take
something for that cough. First you
know. it'll settle on your lungs"
"Oh, I guess not. ma'am; I'm just
out of-the hospital. I shall pick up
in a few days"
We'll, you have your wife make
you some cough strip with an onion
in il. It's sight better than these
boughten sirups."
MY wife-my wife's dead. ma'am:
haven't relation in the world"
The motherly face turned toward
filed with tears. ''Young man. I want
YOU should come home with me. I
don't know anything about you, but
you look honest, and you need nurs-
ing, and / should love to do IL. NV
husband will be glad TO see YOU. He
likes company. l want you should
come right along. I don't believe you
were fit TO leave the hospital"
Harrison was half dazed by this
audacious kindness. He protested
family against Il. but that night the
feverish, heartsick man found him
self guest of honor in plain, Chris
tian home.
For a fortnight he was nursed.
Then he was offered work at carpen-
tering with his host.
Five months went by, and one day
he reappeared before the desk of the
secretary of the Prison association
and poured out his story.
"I can't stand il another day!
Those folks are as good TO me as
as IL / was an angel. can't stand it!
They wouldn't look at me IL they
: knew" and he broke down and cried
as he had not cried since he was n
boy. All the pain and shame Of
| crime and punishment and reviving
( ambition were in his tears.
The secretary was equal TO the sit
uation. She left Harrison in the pri-
vate Office and took the first car for
the house in the suburbs. She told
the whole wretched story of Harri-
sons past life to the two plain folk
who had brought the ex-convict back
to life.
When she came to the last word,
mother" wiped her eyes and said:
you tell Frank to come right back
, here. Why, he seems Just like one
of our own folksl"-and one of her
Gown folks" he remains to this day.
Is not the phrase homely echo of
! zone of the least of these my breth-
ren," and does it not outshine much
modern caution?-Youth's Compan-
! ion.