Visit to a poor Family in London.—Idleness the Parent of
Vice.—Prodigality and Generosity incompatible.—The Pleasures of
Benevolence.—True and false Motives for saving.
After the impression which the story, and the sight of the family had
made, was a little worn off; Caroline begged leave to buy one toy, and
then another, till her money was quite gone. When Mrs. Mason found it
was all expended, she looked round for an object in distress; a poor
woman soon presented herself, and her meagre countenance gave weight to
her tale.—A babe, as meagre, hung at her breast, which did not seem to
contain sufficient moisture to wet its parched lips.
On enquiry they found that she lodged in a neighbouring garret. Her
husband had been out of employment a long time, and was now sick. The
master who had formerly given him work, lost gradually great part of his
business; for his best customers were grown so fond of foreign articles,
that his goods grew old in the warehouse. Consequently a number of hands
were dismissed, who not immediately finding employment elsewhere, were
reduced to the most extreme distress. The truth of this account a
reputable shopkeeper attested; and he added that many of the unhappy
creatures, who die unpitied at the gallows, were first led into vice by
accidental idleness.
They ascended the dark stairs, scarcely able to bear the bad smells that
flew from every part of a small house, that contained in each room a
family, occupied in such an anxious manner to obtain the necessaries of
life, that its comforts never engaged their thoughts. The precarious
meal was snatched, and the stomach did not turn, though the cloth, on
which it was laid, was died in dirt. When to-morrow’s bread is
uncertain, who thinks of cleanliness? Thus does despair increase the
misery, and consequent disease aggravate the horrors of poverty!
They followed the woman into a low garret, that was never visited by the
chearful rays of the sun.—A man, with a sallow complexion, and long
beard, sat shivering over a few cinders in the bottom of a broken grate,
and two more children were on the ground, half naked, near him, breathing
the same noxious air. The gaiety natural to their age, did not animate
their eyes, half sunk in their sockets; and, instead of smiles, premature
wrinkles had found a place in their lengthened visages. Life was nipped
in the bud; shut up just as it began to unfold itself. ‘A frost, a
killing frost,’ had destroyed the parent’s hopes; they seemed to come
into the world only to crawl half formed,—to suffer, and to die.
Mrs. Mason desired the girls to relieve the family; Caroline hung down
her head abashed—wishing the paltry ornaments which she had thoughtlessly
bought, in the bottom of the sea. Mary, meanwhile, proud of the new
privilege, emptied her purse; and Caroline, in a supplicating tone,
entreated Mrs. Mason to allow her to give her neck-handkerchief to the
little infant.
Mrs. Mason desired the woman to call on her the next day; and they left
the family cheered by their bounty.
Caroline expected the reproof that soon proceeded from the mouth of her
true friend. I am glad that this accident has occurred, to prove to you
that prodigality and generosity are incompatible. Economy and
self-denial are necessary in every station, to enable us to be generous,
and to act conformably to the rules of justice.
Mary may this night enjoy peaceful slumbers; idle Fancies, foolishly
indulged, will not float in her brain; she may, before she closes her
eyes, thank God, for allowing her to be His instrument of mercy. Will
the trifles that you have purchased, afford you such heartfelt delight,
Caroline?
Selfish people save to gratify their own caprices and appetites; the
benevolent curb both, to give scope to the nobler feelings of the human
heart. When we squander money idly, we defraud the poor, and deprive our
own souls of their most exalted food. If you wish to be useful, govern
your desires, and wait not till distress obtrudes itself—search it out.
In the country it is not always attended with such shocking circumstances
as at present; but in large cities, many garrets contain families,
similar to those we have seen this afternoon. The money spent in
indulging the vain wishes of idleness, and a childish fondness for pretty
things not regulated by reason, would relieve the misery that my soul
shrinks back from contemplating.
[Picture: Economy and self-denial are necessary in every station]