The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-07-14
REWARDS FOR GOOD DEEDS.

The reward for good deed is to
have done it," The writer might
have added that The reward for a
bad deed is to have done it," the ma
ture of the rewards in either case
being appropriate to the action taken
by the individual.
This matter of reward-making is
debated by many people and the pros
and cons are interesting, at least, if
not particularly helpful. Some there
are who argue that man should be
visibly rewarded for good deed in
token of appreciation lest he might
not feel the stimulus to renewed right
eousness. On the other hand, there
are those who say this savors of bri-
berry and it not unlike giving candy
to child on its promise to be good E.
They take the ground tnat to reward
a good deed is to indicate a belief
that bad deed might have been ex-
pected and that, inasmuch as the good
deed were the simple performance OF
a duty to ones self or ones fellows,
there should be no reward for doing
ones duty.
There are those who dispute the
satisfaction in the simple knowledge
that one has done good deed. They
argue that to give up the hammock
when their bones are wearied to the
newcomer does not make the straight
backed chair which is the only empty
chair on the porch any less straight
backed or more comfortable to ones
body and that the sun shines just as
mercilessly on the man who makes a
special trip down town to oblige a
neighbor as upon him who seeks his
club and refuses to take his family
for pleasure jaunt. And most of
us who have been strictly virtuous
by streaks will agree that there is no
visible or near-at-hand reward wait
ing for us as a general thing when
we forego some pleasure or personal
comfort for the perforcance of a good
deed. In politics, of course, there
is difference, good deeds often 60
ing by the board and bad deeds win
ming the fat rewards but even here
there are exceptional cases when the
good comes out on top as Hughes of
New York is doing.
Aside from the mass of argument
that is thrown at you from all sides in
the discussion of this question, the
truth that most men know is accur-
ate is to be found in that first quota
ton.
"The reward for a good deed is to
have done it.. The man who does
not find healthy inner glow in the
region of the still small voice when
he mas gone out of his way to do a
good deed or when he has simply
done his duty as he has seen it, has
something wrong with him some
where. This Is the only reward that
most of us hope to find or can hope
to find, the inward satisfaction that
outward conduct has been what it
should be. To blab this fact to a
neighbor or even an intimate friend
is to spoil everything but to carry
within one the feeling that one has,
after all, been loyal to his conviction
of truth and faith and right-doing is
to carry with one the spark of hap
piness and contentment that will en-
rich all the years. Regardless of the
visible and earthly rewards which the
INSCRIPTIONS and the worldly are
heaping about them, the strictly hon
est performer of dutys bidding keeps
his eyes straight ahead and knows
since the still small voice does not
protest, that all is well with him
though his purse be empty and his
friends say of him, HE failed to sue
ceed." ~ VI