Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-06-21
The Bronze and the
Human Heart
BY ALAN HlNSDALE

ySa Hollingsworth did much for the
'-EpSn, he did not do anything for
agT one in it excepting himself. He
fcH1nded the Hollingsworth institu-
,tsGn and endowed it for the work of
scientific research. Its beLeflts to
mankind We're intended to be general,
,zet particular, and the real design was
90 perpetuate the name of Joel Hol-
Engsworth. On a circular plot of
ground just within its gates stood
.tronze statue of its founder on lofty
pedestal.
1t represented man who looked ag-
gressive, by no means modest or retir-
IEg--one who would not hide his light
u17der a bushel.
One day Edgar Walker, young fel-
Low seventeen years of age, was pass
ing through the town of Hollings-
worth, his worldly effects tied up in a
,baDdanna handkerchief, on his way to
a city near by, where he hoped to make
his fortune. His way led him by the
Hollingswortb institution, and, paus-
ing, he looked through the gilded bars
of the gates at the noble pile within,
his eyes finally resting on the statue
OF Its founder.
Hearing a moan behind him, he turn
ed and saw girl about eight years
old crying Turning, he asked her what
troubled her. She told him that her
mother had sent her to the store with
a silver dollar to make some purchases
and she had lost it.
Now, Edgar Walkers capital on
which he proposed to found his for
tune was exactly 81. Taking it from
his pocket. he offered 1t to the girl
She drew back, stopped crying and
with changed expression said:
1T would be mean for me to take
money from boy with holes in his
shoes, even as a gift. My father says
that the man who built all these build
ings used to take money from anybody
he could get it out Of. l won't do that,
no matter what I need"
The girl went on her way, and Ed
gar passed on through the town dream
ing of the fortune he would make, how
be would make it and what he would
do with it after 1t was made
The years went by. The noble pile
called the Hollingsworth institution
still rose high over the town that nes-
tied about 1t. Joel Hollingsworth in
bronze still stood with folded arms
within the gate, conscious Of his no-
bility Of soul. An occasional passel
still stopped to peer between the bars.
The particular passer who gazed one
summer afternoon Just before sunset
was prosperous looking gentleman
a few years short of forty.
Hearing a musical laugh behind him.
ne turned and saw woman between
twenty-five and thirty with girl some
twenty years her Junior whose resem-
blance to her indicated that the child
was her daughter.
"Come, mamma" said the girl, tug
Iging at her mother; "let's look In at
the green grass and the flowers and the
trees and the pretty walks"
The woman yielded, and the two
stood beside the man, mother and child
gazing on this beautiful home Of SCI
ence, the man gazing upon the girl
Madam" he said, twenty years ago
gate when. hearing some one weeping
behind me. | turned and saw that
child. She said that her mother had
given her dollar with which to make
purchases and she had lost it. l offer
ed her the only dollar possessed, and
she declined it, saying that she would
Rot be SO mean as the man standing
there In bronze. Can 1t be that she
ceased from that time to develop and
Is still child"
Il am or was the child" replied the
mother, who had lost the dollar and
who declined your tnd offer. grew
30 Eomanhood, married and became
u widow. This child is my daughter.
q have not forgotten the boy who of.
Tered to supply my loss, and he has
always existed In my mind as the an
dpodes OF the man Of bronze"
And have remembered your re-
marks about the bronze heart Of this
man l was going to the city to enter
upon my hfe's career. ! resolved that
Ii could not make . fortune without
grinding my fellow beings, without re-
festng the poor and lowly, would get
On without one. / have come within
reasonable bounds Of keeping my reso-
Mtion. have made money, but at.
nibute 1t to natural gift for business
rather than to hard work. Fortunate
ly 1t has not been necessary for me to
he mean. To me money making has
sbeen easy"
Then you will not leave a monu-
SMeR1 to yourself such as thisY'
I shall leave no monument at all
When / die all or nearly all the funds
Il have accumulated will have gone al.
sIeady to any deserving, or it may be
Eundeserving, person whom | happen
10 meet needing assistance. If there
1s anything left it shall be distributed
In sums OF 81 among the poor"
Then you do not believe In organ
zzzed charity?"
certainly do believe in it Rut for