The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-19

l Mo- Of Many Noble Clarifies Quiet
ly Done-His Fellow Man NaS His
Brotfaer-The Good That He Did
viii Live After Hmm Giving He
Let Not His Right Hand Know
What His Left Hand Gave -.
On Friday June the LIST, 1906, George
A. Croft died, and when the fact be-
came known n gloom spread over the
entire community; and many a tongue !
gave utterance 20 his noble deeds and
manly virtues; for no. man lived in this
community that did more than he,
In relieving distress cheering the sick
comforting the disoonsolate, and Dis
pensing charity to those VINO stood in
need Of his timely assistance.
His life Of unselfish devotion 10
deeds hat developed the highest ana
ktiOn in his fellow man and many
a heart pierced with sorrow, which
had been lifted from the depths of
despair by his timely caunsel, and
changed to sunshine and happiness by
his many acts OF b~enevolence.
No charitable institution ever need
ed assistance that did lot receive it
the moment he heard of its distress.
And as the Banner of the Red Cross
floats in angelic beauty and purity
above the awful scenes Of war, 50 the
memoir Of tine glorious deeds Of this
great benefactOr now dead, will 1Oat
in lustrous glory above the baniSa-
ed gloom of a myriad of homes: and
an army Of children, by his acts OF
kindness will be enlisted in the cause
of charity, whose zeal and magnanl-
nous self sacrifice, Angels will sntlle
to see.
The writer knew him well, having
had the proud honor Of his confidence
and friendship, now feels at llDetry
to make know a few of the man cAar-
liable acts that marked the type or
his manhood. He recalls an incident
when Mr.. Croft was travelling and met
a little ragged boy upon the train.
| and after engaging him in CONVERSE
| ton, the boy was asked what he most
| desired in life, when he replied, An
| education" Mr.. Croft then asked
| where the little fellows home was,
| and when he told, he stopped at the
| station, got off with him and went to
| his home. He saw the boys mother
| and made arrangements to send him
to school, and when he died was. de-
fraying the expense of the child at
| one of the institutions Of learning IN
this state.
Another instance of his benevOlence,
was, when happening to be in a GER
tain town in South Carolia, he was
asked to subscribe to a fund for the
benefit of an orphan home, he lmme-
diately pledged his weeks commission
ITO that institution. And when his
weeks labOrs ceased in Saturday night
although the commission amounted TO
three hundred and eighty-ive dollars,
he Immediately wrote his employers an
had them to send the check to the
institution, to gladen the hearts OF
the motherless and fatherless children
in that home, which the Order he low
ed so we'll had established.
He left nothing undone that would
minister to the wants OF others. WITH
tireless energy and answering devO'
ton be excelled in all his undertak
ings. On one occasion when compel
ing for the largest sales, among tne
vast horde of statesmen travelling foI
the house he SO we'll represented, at
ter winning the prize his employer:
asked him which he desired, a loving
cup or its equavalent-One hundred anG
fifty dollars in cash, Mr.. Croft replied
that he would take the money. am
upon receiving it Oh the 23rd day o
| last September, he Immediately en-
dorsed the check and sent it to a
orphan asylum in Georgia, with IN
%struction to divide it among the chill
dren of that institution.
Y This is simply a poor expression o
his manly virtues. He was a kind alt
gentle husband and leaves a devote;
t wife and a most of friends who mour'
L his aoos, for in practicing sincerity h
spoke as he thought, did as he profess
er performed as he promised and wa
: all he seemed to appear:
t Fond to oblige, too gentle to offend,
4 Beloved by all. TO all too good a frienC
t The bad he censured by his acts alone
Blind to their faults, severe upon hi
t own,
= In others griefs q tender part he bore
And all the needy shared of his store.
H. NJ.