Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-26
FEEDING SPARROWS
AN INCIDENT ILLUSTRATING THE
ESSENCE OF CHRISTIANITY.
What May Be Done by All in Similar
Instances-Senator Ayers Sym
pathy as Expressed in Detroit.

Written for The Evening Star.
In reading my Star Christmas night, I'M
der, the caption, Around the City," 1 saw
a little article which affected me greatly.
1t is this:
'"This morning an elderly lady of gentle
presence was sprinkling bread crumbs as
she walked in Lafayette Park A man
asked a guard about it, and the guard
seemed glad to tell.
THAT. lady feeds the birds, sir. every
winter as regularly as the cold weather
comes around. You may think it small
thing, sir, but 1t means a heap to the
sparrows.'
1.-THE man did not think 1t small thing.
He even wondered II it could be really true,
after all, about angels walking the earth
and If they ever disguised themselves in
mourning shawls and bombazines!
That guard epitomized in his homely ex-
preston all that there is in the true es-
sence of Christianity.
The trouble is in our lives we are too
careless about the needs of others. The
sprinkling of a few bread crumbs does not
amount to much; bread is cheap and the
effort Is not great, but it means heap
to the SparrOwS
The Good Samaritan.
Kindly words do not depress or fatigue
the human lips which utter them, but they
mean heap to the sparrows."
When trouble or sickness comes money
cannot take the place of personal aid ana
personal sympathy. Our Savior has en-
phasized this in his parable of the Good
Samaritan. He probably was man OF
means, or his credit would not have been
good at the inn. He was probably a gen
tleman of some emnence, and could nave
given the poor sufferer card OF admls-
sion to the hospital at Jericho or the nos
pice at Jerusalem, but suspecting the In
jured man would die before he could either
get there, or, after arriving, could comply
with their rules and regulations, he dls-
mounted. placed the man on his beast ana
took him to an inn, and told the landlord TO
take care of him, and he would pay the
bill do not suppose the Good Samaritan
especially prided himself on what he had
done. When the bill came in he probably
drew his check on the First National BANK
of Jerusalem and forgot all about the mat
ter but 1t meant a heap to the sparrows
A Personal Incident.
Once. when 1 was stationed at an eastern
city, in position of great responsibility,
very valued and efficient clerk, whose serv-
Ices were in great demand, failed to ap-
pear at his desk for three days. On inquiry
1 found out that he had complained OF
feeling queer for two or three days. L
obtained his address, and that night Went
to his house. l found him down with ty-
phod fever, a WORKOUT wife with family
of children and no servant. The wife and
mother told me that they did not know
what they were going to do, as, or course
his pay would be stopped, and they were
about out of coal and needed groceries, and
when the dealers found out he was SICK
they would not give credit.
His pay will not be stopped" 1 said.
How many children have you?"
Five was the answer.
"Are you trying to take care of five chill
dren, do the homework and nurse very
sick man?''
Yes, sir 1 think I can do it. 1 look
weak, but l am pretty strong, all the
same"
1 went that night and saw my doctor.
and asked him to give look after the SICK
man, telling him the name OF MS physician
who was a young practitioner. He said he
would offer to do anything he could and
not violate professional ethics The next
morning 1 went to coal dealer and or
dered a ton of coal sent to the house
had found out where the family traded, and
went to the grocery keeper and told him
the situation, and if he felt at all nervous
that l would become responsible for the
bill. He answered that they had traded with
him good many years, had always paid
him. that he was not given to feeling nerv-
Gus and that he had not asked for any in
dorser.
l then went to my office. and, going into
the room where the sick man had his desk,
told the clerks about the situation. one
clerk Immediately proposed getting up
subscription. / told him l did not believe
that would be necessary, but that if any
of their wives or lady relatives who were
not afraid of typhoid fever would go there
and help take care of those children, and
if some of the men would go and aid In
nursing the sick one, it would do more good
than to get up subscription.
They adopted my suggestion. The older
doctor gave some advice as to treatment,
the grocery keeper went and told the lady
not to hesitate to send for anything want
ed the coal dealer sent the coal, and the
invalid recovered.
1 have dealt i'll details 50 as to illustrate
a point in practical Christianity, and that
Is personal interest is necessary. The
whole transaction did not cost me one
cent When this clerk came back to the
Office he received his full pay, and the
boys offered to lend him money If he
needed 1t, but he thanked them and said
he had enough He paid he could all
his bills and was on his feet again. All
the sacrifice l made was to give up my
evening at billiards, of which / am very
fond. but ! have always felt that what
rows.
Senator Ayers Work.
1 have friend. Senator Alger of Mich
igan, who is largely possessed of this feel
ing of personal sympathy and affectionate
regard for those who need either sympathy
or aid. He may not be able to visit all
of them, but the little newsboys and boot
blacks in Detroit whom he clothed, the
women and girls at home to whom he sent
coal and -four, the inmates of the soldiers
and other homes to whom he sent his an
nual Christmas check of one hundred dol
lars, Ito be spent as they directed and
chose have all endeared him to the people
of Michigan. Perhaps it may not have
been much of an effort for him to crafty
the impulses of his kindly nature, but when
those little newsboys and bootblacks went
out with their little bodies warmly clothed;
when the families at home sat by a good
warm fire with something to eat, / tell you,
Mr.. Editor, that it meant "a heap to the
sparrows."
While 1t is right and to the credit of
those who have been blessed with album
dant means to endow hospitals and other
similar institutions, still each of u.s. in an
humble way, can do something to help
those who are more unfortunate or weaker
than we are. A kindly word, a helping
hand. Is not much of an effort but they
mean heap to the sparrows" This is
the season of the year to cultivate this
trend of thought-to try and do what we
can. 1t may be but little, but that little NAV
do some good What we think ia not ,,,,,oh