One Sunday morning in Genoa a woman whom British people love
stood by the dying bed of a man whose memory the world reveres.
Josephine Butler stood by the bedside of Garibaldi, the old
hero’s gaunt figure still clothed with the scarlet tunic which
recalled the day when ten thousand “Garibaldis” swept on to
victory and liberty with his name upon their lips. And the dying
man said to the living woman:
“Never forget that tho we pass away and the leaders of a
cause fall one by one, principles never pass away. They are
world-wide, unchangeable and eternal.”--CHARLES F. AKED.
(2509)
* * * * *
The Rev. W. F. Crafts tells this story of a clerk who stood by his
principles:
Stephen Girard, the infidel millionaire of Philadelphia, one
Saturday bade his clerks come the following day and unload a
vessel which had just arrived. One of the clerks, who had strong
convictions and the power to act upon them, refused to comply
with the demand. “Well, sir,” said Mr. Girard, “if you can
not do as I wish, we can separate.” “I know that, sir,” said
the hero; “I also know that I have a widowed mother to care
for, but I can not work on Sunday.” “Very well, sir,” said the
proprietor, “go to the cashier’s desk, and he will settle with
you.” For three weeks the young man tramped the streets of
Philadelphia, looking for work. One day a bank president asked
Mr. Girard to name a suitable person for cashier for a new bank
about to be started. After reflection, Mr. Girard named this
young man. “But I thought you discharged him?” “I did,” was the
answer, “because he would not work on Sunday, and the man who
will lose his situation from principle is the man to whom you
can intrust your money.” (Text.)
(2510)
See FEELING AND PRINCIPLE.