"I'M on a begging expedition," said Mr. Jonas, as he came bustlinginto the counting-room of a fellow merchant named Prescott. "And, asyou are a benevolent man, I hope to get at least five dollars herein aid of a family in extremely indigent circumstances. My wifeheard of them yesterday; and the little that was learned, hasstrongly excited our sympathies. So I am out on a mission forsupplies. I want to raise enough to buy them a ton of coal, a barrelof flour, a bag of potatoes, and a small lot of groceries."
"Do you know anything of the family for which you propose thischarity?" inquired Mr. Prescott, with a slight coldness of manner.
"I only know that they are in want and that it is the first duty ofhumanity to relieve them," said Mr. Jonas, quite warmly.
"I will not question your inference," said Mr. Prescott. "To relievethe wants of our suffering fellow creatures is an unquestionableduty. But there is another important consideration connected withpoverty and its demands upon us."
"What is that pray?" inquired Mr. Jonas, who felt considerablyfretted by so unexpected a damper to his benevolent enthusiasm.
"How it shall be done," answered Mr. Prescott, calmly.
"If a man is hungry, give him bread; if he is naked, clothe him,"said Mr. Jonas. "There is no room for doubt or question here. Thisfamily I learn, are suffering for all the necessaries of life, and Ican clearly see the duty to supply their wants."
"Of how many does the family consist?" asked Mr. Prescott.
"There is a man and his wife and three or four children."
"Is the man sober and industrious?"
"I don't know anything about him. I've had no time to makeinquiries. I only know that hunger and cold are in his dwelling, or,at least were in his dwelling yesterday."
"Then you have already furnished relief?"
"Temporary relief. I shouldn't have slept last night, after what Iheard, without just sending them a bushel of coal, and a basket ofprovisions."
"For which I honor your kindness of heart, Mr. Jonas. So far youacted right. But, I am by no means so well assured of the wisdom andhumanity of your present action in the case. The true way to helpthe poor, is to put it into their power to help themselves. The merebestowal of alms is, in most cases an injury; either encouragingidleness and vice, or weakening self-respect and virtuousself-dependence. There is innate strength in every one; let us seekto develop this strength in the prostrate, rather than hold them upby a temporary application of our own powers, to fall again,inevitably, when the sustaining hand is removed. This, depend uponit, is not true benevolence. Every one has ability to serve thecommon good, and society renders back sustenance for bodily life asthe reward of this service."
"But, suppose a man cannot get work," said Mr. Jonas. "How is he toserve society, for the sake of a reward?"
"True charity will provide employment for him rather than bestowalms."
"But, if there is no employment to be had Mr. Prescott?"
"You make a very extreme case. For all who are willing to work, inthis country, there is employment."
"I'm by no means ready to admit this assertion."
"Well, we'll not deal in general propositions; because anything canbe assumed or denied. Let us come direct to the case in point, andthus determine our duty towards the family whose needs we areconsidering. Which will be best for them? To help them in the wayyou propose, or to encourage them to help themselves?"
"All I know about them at present," replied Mr. Jonas, who wasbeginning to feel considerably worried, "is, that they are sufferingfor the common necessaries of life. It is all very well to tell aman to help himself, but, if his arm be paralyzed, or he have no keyto open the provision shop, he will soon starve under that system ofbenevolence. Feed and clothe a man first, and then set him to workto help himself. He will have life in his heart and strength in hishands."
"This sounds all very fair, Mr. Jonas; and yet, there is not so muchtrue charity involved there as appears on the surface. It will availlittle, however, for us to debate the matter now. Your time and mineare both of too much value during business hours for uselessdiscussion. I cannot give, understandingly, in the present case, andso must disappoint your expectations in this quarter."
"Good morning, then," said Mr. Jonas, bowing rather coldly.
"Good morning," pleasantly responded Mr. Prescott, as his visitorturned and left his store.
"All a mean excuse for not giving," said Mr. Jonas, to himself, ashe walked rather hurriedly away. "I don't believe much in thebenevolence of your men who are so particular about the whys andwherefores--so afraid to give a dollar to a poor, starving fellowcreature, lest the act encourage vice or idleness."
The next person upon whom Mr. Jonas called, happened to be very muchof Mr. Prescott's way of thinking; and the next chanced to knowsomething about the family for whom he was soliciting aid. "A lazy,vagabond set!" exclaimed the individual, when Mr. Jonas mentionedhis errand, "who would rather want than work. They may starve beforeI give them a shilling."
"Is this true?" asked Mr. Jonas, in surprise.
"Certainly it is. I've had their case stated before. In fact, I wentthrough the sleet and rain one bitter cold night to take themprovisions, so strongly had my sympathies in regard to them beenexcited. Let them go to work."
"But can the man get work?" inquired Mr. Jonas.
"Other poor men, who have families dependent on them, can get work.Where there's a will there's a way. Downright laziness is thedisease in this case, and the best cure for which is a littlewholesome starvation. So, take my advice, and leave this excellentremedy to work out a cure."
Mr. Jonas went back to his store in rather a vexed state of mind.All his fine feelings of benevolence were stifled. He was angry withthe indigent family, and angry with himself for being "the fool tomeddle with any business but his own."
"Catch me on such an errand again," said he, indignantly. "I'llnever seek to do a good turn again as long as I live."
Just as he was saying this, his neighbor Prescott came into hisstore.
"Where does the poor family live, of whom you were speaking to me?"he inquired.
"O, don't ask me about them!" exclaimed Mr. Jonas. "I've just foundthem out. They're a lazy, vagabond set."
"You are certain of that?"
"Morally certain. Mr. Caddy says he knows them like a book, andthey'd rather want than work. With him, I think a little wholesomestarvation will do them good."
Notwithstanding this rather discouraging testimony, Mr. Prescottmade a memorandum of the street and number of the house in which thefamily lived, remarking as he did so:
"I have just heard where the services of an able-bodied man arewanted. Perhaps Gardiner, as you call him, may be glad to obtain thesituation."
"He won't work; that's the character I have received of him,"replied Mr. Jonas, whose mind was very much roused against the man.The pendulum of his impulses had swung, from a light touch, to theother extreme.
"A dollar earned, is worth two received in charity," said Mr.Prescott; "because the dollar earned corresponds to servicerendered, and the man feels that it is his own--that he has anundoubted right to its possession. It elevates his moral character,inspires self-respect, and prompts to new efforts. Mere alms-givingis demoralizing for the opposite reason. It blunts the moralfeelings, lowers the self-respect, and fosters inactivity andidleness, opening the way for vice to come in and sweep away all thefoundations of integrity. Now, true charity to the poor is for us tohelp them to help themselves. Since you left me a short time ago, Ihave been thinking, rather hastily, over the matter; and the fact ofhearing about the place for an able-bodied man, as I just mentioned,has led me to call around and suggest your making interest thereforin behalf of Gardiner. Helping him in this way will be truebenevolence."
"It's no use," replied Mr. Jonas, in a positive tone of voice. "He'san idle good-for-nothing fellow, and I'll have nothing to do withhim."
Mr. Prescott urged the matter no farther, for he saw that to do sowould be useless. On his way home, on leaving his store, he calledto see Gardiner. He found, in two small, meagerly furnished rooms, aman, his wife, and three children. Everything about them indicatedextreme poverty; and, worse than this, lack of cleanliness andindustry. The woman and children had a look of health, but the manwas evidently the subject of some wasting disease. His form waslight, his face thin and rather pale, and his languid eyes deeplysunken. He was very far from being the able-bodied man Mr. Prescotthad expected to find. As the latter stepped into the miserable roomwhere they were gathered, the light of expectation, mingled with theshadows of mute suffering, came into their countenances. Mr.Prescott was a close observer, and saw, at a glance, the assumedsympathy-exciting face of the mendicant in each.
"You look rather poor here," said he, as he took a chair, which thewoman dusted with her dirty apron before handing it to him.
"Indeed, sir, and we are miserably off," replied the woman, in ahalf whining tone. "John, there, hasn't done a stroke of work nowfor three months; and--"
"Why not!" interrupted Mr. Prescott.
"My health is very poor," said the man. "I suffer much from pain inmy side and back, and am so weak most of the time, that I can hardlycreep about."
"That is bad, certainly," replied Mr. Prescott, "very bad." And ashe spoke, he turned his eyes to the woman's face, and then scannedthe children very closely.
"Is that boy of yours doing anything?" he inquired.
"No, sir," replied the mother. "He's too young to be of anyaccount."
"He's thirteen, if my eyes do not deceive me."
"Just a little over thirteen."
"Does he go to school?"
"No sir. He has no clothes fit to be seen in at school."
"Bad--bad," said Mr. Prescott, "very bad. The boy might be earningtwo dollars a week; instead of which he is growing up in idleness,which surely leads to vice."
Gardiner looked slightly confused at this remark, and his wife,evidently, did not feel very comfortable under the steady, observanteyes that were on her.
"You seem to be in good health," said Mr. Prescott, looking at thewoman.
"Yes sir, thank God! And if it wasn't for that, I don't know what weshould all have done. Everything has fallen upon me since John,there, has been ailing."
Mr. Prescott glanced around the room, and then remarked, a littlepleasantly:
"I don't see that you make the best use of your health andstrength."
The woman understood him, for the color came instantly to her face.
"There is no excuse for dirt and disorder," said the visitor, moreseriously. "I once called to see a poor widow, in such a state oflow health that she had to lie in bed nearly half of every day. Shehad two small children, and supported herself and them by fineembroidery, at which she worked nearly all the time. I never saw aneater room in my life than hers, and her children, though in veryplain and patched clothing, were perfectly clean. How different isall here; and yet, when I entered, you all sat idly amid thisdisorder, and--shall I speak plainly--filth."
The woman, on whose face the color had deepened while Mr. Prescottspoke, now rose up quickly, and commenced bustling about the room,which, in a few moments, looked far less in disorder. That she felthis rebuke, the visiter regarded as a good sign.
"Now," said he, as the woman resumed her seat, "let me give you thebest maxim for the poor in the English language; one that, if livedby, will soon extinguish poverty, or make it a very lightthing,--'God helps those who help themselves.' To be very plain withyou, it is clear to my eyes, that you do not try to help yourselves;such being the case, you need not expect gratuitous help from God.Last evening you received some coal and a basket of provisions froma kind-hearted man, who promised more efficient aid to-day. You havenot yet heard from him, and what is more, will not hear from him.Some one, to whom he applied for a contribution happened to knowmore about you than he did, and broadly pronounced you a set of idlevagabonds. Just think of bearing such a character! He dropped thematter at once, and you will get nothing from him. I am one of thoseupon whom he called. Now, if you are all disposed to helpyourselves, I will try to stand your friend. If not, I shall havenothing to do with you. I speak plainly; it is better; there will beless danger of apprehension. That oldest boy of yours must go towork and earn something. And your daughter can work about the housefor you very well, while you go out to wash, or scrub, and thus earna dollar or two, or three, every week. There will be no danger ofstarvation on this income, and you will then eat your bread inindependence. Mr. Gardiner can help some, I do not in the leastdoubt."
And Mr. Prescott looked inquiringly at the man.
"If I was only able-bodied," said Gardiner, in a half reluctant toneand manner.
"But you are not. Still, there are many things you may do. If by alittle exertion you can earn the small sum of two or three dollars aweek, it will be far better--even for your health--than idleness.Two dollars earned every week by your wife, two by your boy, andthree by yourself, would make seven dollars a week; and if I am notvery much mistaken, you don't see half that sum in a week now."
"Indeed, sir, and you speak the truth there," said the woman.
"Very well. It's plain, then, that work is better than idleness."
"But we can't get work." The woman fell back upon this strongassertion.
"Don't believe a word of it. I can tell you how to earn half adollar a day for the next four or five days at least. So there's abeginning for you. Put yourself in the way of useful employment, andyou will have no difficulty beyond."
"What kind of work, sir?" inquired the woman.
"We are about moving into a new house, and my wife commences thework of having it cleaned to-morrow morning. She wants anotherassistant. Will you come?"
The woman asked the number of his residence, and promised to acceptthe offer of work.
"Very well. So far so good," said Mr. Prescott, cheerfully, as hearose. "You shall be paid at the close of each day's work; and thatwill give you the pleasure of eating your own bread--a realpleasure, you may depend upon it; for a loaf of bread earned issweeter than the richest food bestowed by charity, and far betterfor the health."
"But about the boy, sir?" said Gardiner, whose mind was becomingactive with more independent thoughts.
"All in good time," said Mr. Prescott smiling. "Rome was not builtin a day, you know. First let us secure a beginning. If your wifegoes to-morrow, I shall think her in earnest; as willing to helpherself, and, therefore, worthy to be helped. All the rest will comein due order. But you may rest assured, that, if she does not cometo work, it is the end of the matter as far as I am concerned. Sogood evening to you."
Bright and early came Mrs. Gardiner on the next morning, far tidierin appearance than when Mr. Prescott saw her before. She was astout, strong woman, and knew how to scrub and clean paint as wellas the best. When fairly in the spirit of work, she worked on with asense of pleasure. Mrs. Prescott was well satisfied with herperformance, and paid her the half dollar earned when her day's toilwas done. On the next day, and the next, she came, doing her workand receiving her wages.
On the evening of the third day, Mr. Prescott thought it time tocall upon the Gardiners.
"Well this is encouraging!" said he, with an expression of realpleasure, as he gazed around the room, which scarcely seemed likethe one he had visited before. All was clean, and everything inorder; and, what was better still, the persons of all, though poorlyclad, were clean and tidy. Mrs. Gardiner sat by the table mending agarment; her daughter was putting away the supper dishes; while theman sat teaching a lesson in spelling to their youngest child.
The glow of satisfaction that pervaded the bosom of each member ofthe family, as Mr. Prescott uttered these approving words, was a newand higher pleasure than had for a long time been experienced, andcaused the flame of self-respect and self-dependence, rekindled oncemore, to rise upwards in a steady flame.
"I like to see this," continued Mr. Prescott. "It does me good. Youhave fairly entered the right road. Walk on steadily, courageously,unweariedly. There is worldly comfort and happiness for you at theend. I think I have found a very good place for your son, where hewill receive a dollar and a half a week to begin with. In a fewmonths, if all things suit, he will get two dollars. The work iseasy, and the opportunities for improvement good. I think there is achance for you, also, Mr. Gardiner. I have something in my mind thatwill just meet your case. Light work, and not over five or six hoursapplication each day--the wages four dollars a week to begin with,and a prospect of soon having them raised to six or seven dollars.What do you think of that?"
"Sir!" exclaimed the poor man, in whom personal pride and a nativelove of independence were again awakening, "if you can do this forme, you will be indeed a benefactor."
"It shall be done," said Mr. Prescott, positively. "Did I not say toyou, that God helps those who help themselves? It is even thus. Noone, in our happy country who is willing to work, need be in want;and money earned by honest industry buys the sweetest bread."
It required a little watching, and urging, and admonition, on thepart of Mr. and Mrs. Prescott, to keep the Gardiners moving onsteadily, in the right way. Old habits and inclinations had gainedtoo much power easily to be broken; and but for this watchfulness ontheir part, idleness and want would again have entered the poorman's dwelling.
The reader will hardly feel surprise, when told, that in three orfour years from the time Mr. Prescott so wisely met the case of theindigent Gardiners, they were living in a snug little house of theirown, nearly paid for out of the united industry of the family, everyone of which was now well clad, cheerful, and in active employment.As for Mr. Gardiner, his health has improved, instead of beinginjured by light employment. Cheerful, self-approving thoughts, anduseful labor, have temporarily renovated a fast sinkingconstitution.
Mr. Prescott's way of helping the poor is the right way. They mustbe taught to help themselves. Mere alms-giving is but a temporaryaid, and takes away, instead of giving, that basis ofself-dependence, on which all should rest. Help a man up, and teachhim to use his feet, so that he can walk alone. This is truebenevolence.
THE END.
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