The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-07-28
A Hungry People.


physically starving in proportion to
the cry of those whose need is less
tangible but none the less an actual
want Some Of us do not heed its
burden, others feel profound pity,
others possibly so far exert them
selves as to shed tear over the APP
parent hopelessness of the situation
but there are those who realize that
so long as they have anything to give,
the cry is not made to more or less
hazy Providence but that it's appeal is
made directly to themselves and that
through them the mercy of Heaven
will work out it's agency of mutual
helpfulness.
| 1t is not so difficult thing to fer
ret out the cry for food and to supply
nourishment for the body. 1t is not so
difficult for the observant individual
to discover the need of warm clothing
and supplies that tend to physical
comfort. Such an individual cannot
help but respond to the appeal of
Miss Wellman, Of Brattleboro who in
cludes in a report of the prudential
committee these sentences concerning
the poverty of school children in our
own State.
Il would make your heart ache"
she says, when the small lad takes
off his shoes which may be tied with
string or to hear him apologize for his
stockings which in all likelihood
have no feet. One boy told me his
feet got so hot with stockings" 1t is
hoped this appeal may find fruit in
more generous contributions of stock
ings and overcoats and sweaters and
footgear from those who understand
the pride that so often accompanies
the poverty and makes of it a miser-
able thing.
But the kind of starvation to which
reference is made is that other kind
which is so much more difficult TO
satisfy with sustaining food. Here it
is the longing of a young girl for &
book or a bit of music or a piece of
| lace, the need of timid youngster
for friends and sympathy, the need
for easing the burdens of the farm
wife and securing her friendly inter-
course with her own kind, the need Of
the invalid for CHEEKY Visitors and the
need of grandmother for someone 10
set by me for spell" And the list
grows and grows until it contains
your name and mine for there is no
one of us who has not ali unsupplied
want, a crying need and we become
isfy all those cries at once if he
could, not community of CONNER
cialized and divided classes trammel-
ing upon and competing with each
other but just handful of Gods folks
with some very real wants not unlike
the awkward, helpless lovableness OF
a nest of young birdlings cheepine
Cor food and keeping gu overworked
mother on constant wing to satisfy
the never ending demand.
And, in the doctrine Of helpfulness
the personal cry may be suppressed il
not satisfied. Turn about is fair play
and man may turn abuut to do his
: neighbor kindness as readily as tc
return him mean action. The lonely
individual lavishes books and musi.
on sense-hungry family and reaps
friends in return. The timid and the
invalid satisfy each others need, the
youthful vanity OF sirlhood, the hun
ger of the farm wife Tor social cha
find in each other satisfaction that il
is only a persistent, hopeless cry in
deed that will not respond to the
effort to aid and strengthen ones
own self by aiding and strengthening
another. 1t is simply another way OF
teaching the doctrine Of self sacrifice
of proving that the life ofthewoman
who was too busy to die was superior
to that of her who folded her hands in
the heat of the day 10 make hersel
lScuy lOl me uHhHONI NY lOlS Iltd
itation and analysis.
The cry of starved people is not
for your neighbour 10 satisfy.
comes direct to you and waits upo.
your doorstep for its answer. 1t ma,
be but the loaning of magazine u
the gift of simple trinket, a letter
call, word, a slance, but often
times these very little things still thu
most heartrending cry into peace.
man may be well fed Of body an
clean Of eye and clothed with warmth
and yet be starving daily under you
| very eye for that which you conlt
give him if you would. The call TO
help is made to you. Remember that
No one but you can do just the thinl
that everybody is waiting to hav
done. And time is very precious AM
workers very few.