The widow gradually realized the whole object of her visitors, and she tried to express her grat.i.tude in words, but they failed her, and streaming tears had to tell the tale of thanks.
After this our society went to see Widow Williams. Hers was a neat cot, but they found suffering painful enough inside. Philip, a youth of about their own age, sat in a large stuffed chair, looking pale and thin, and wasted away almost to a skeleton, and his great blue eyes peered at them wonderingly as they entered. The mother, too, looked careworn and sick, and the dry, hacking cough that sounded in her throat told how much she needed proper food and care.
The youths made their business known as before, and with about the same result. The widow and her son could hardly realize that such a blessing had dawned upon them, but when they did realize it their joy and grat.i.tude knew no bounds.
"Look here," said Sam Green, as soon as they had reached the road, "it strikes me that we are just about a week behind hand. We ought to have commenced this work just one week earlier than we did, for our nine dollars won"t quite bring matters all up square to the present time.
But if they were square now, they"d keep so with our weekly allowance."
"You"re right, Sam," said Fulton, gleefully.
"Then let"s commence back two weeks, eh?"
"I think so," said Peter.
And all the rest said so, too. So they had eighteen dollars instead of nine.
First, our party went and bought three half cords of wood, which they sent at once to their respective destinations, and they agreed that when the other matters were attended to they would go and work it up.
Then they went to the stores and purchased such articles of provisions and comfort as they could agree were best adapted to meet the wants of their charges, and, having done this, they separated into three parties of two each, so as to have each family provided for with as little delay as possible. Besides carrying provisions enough to last a week, they left with each about a dollar in change.
When the poor people saw the promised blessing--when they thus met the fruition of their newly raised hopes, their joy was almost painful. The n.o.ble youths were blessed over and over again.
The wood was sawed and split, and put under cover, and then the society returned to the village, as happy as happy could be. On the next day, they went to the church and heard how many heathen had been converted to the peculiar _isms_ of the preachers; and on the day following that, they commenced another week of their newly found _Christianity_.
"Sam," said the owner of the machine-shop, "what were you and the rest of your party doing last Sat.u.r.day afternoon?"
"Converting the _heathen_," answered Sam.
His employer was a church member, and in for foreign missions, and moreover had often tried to induce Sam into the mysteries.
It was some time before Sam would tell the secret, but his boss became so earnest that he at length told the whole story. For awhile the employer gazed upon his journeyman with wonder, but gradually, as a sense of the fact came over him, he hung his head.
"Sam," he said at length, earnestly, and with a tear in his eye, "let me join your society."
"But how"ll you raise the money?" inquired Sam.
"Money?" echoed the boss. "Look at my bank-book."
"Ah, but that won"t answer. You must save the money by depriving yourself of some superfluity, or luxury you now enjoy."
"Is that the rule?"
"It is most rigidly. Our cigars and ale furnish us."
"And won"t you smoke again?"
"Never, while within the reach of my influence there"s a human being in want!"
"Then I"ll throw away my tobacco and beer; may I join at that?"
"I"ll propose you."
And the master machinist was proposed and admitted.
Another week pa.s.sed away, and the new Christians went again on their mission, and there were more tears of joy, more prayers, and more blessings. Mr. Boothby, the machinist, had gained a new ray of light on the subject of Christian missions.
At length it became known that the poor families of Madisonville had found friends. People were wonder-struck when they discovered how happy and joyous these once miserable wretches had become; and more still when, one Sunday they saw Uncle Israel and his wife, and Mrs.
Manley with her two elder children, enter the church.
Of course the truth leaked out, and we can imagine where the public eye of sympathy and appreciation was turned. Before a month was out, more than fifty people had engaged indirectly in the work, by placing money, food, and clothing in the hands of the original six, for them to distribute as they deemed proper.
But there was one rule to which the "society" adhered. They would not receive a cent in money which was not the result of a cutting off of some superfluity, and thus they showed to the people how simple and easy in its work is true charity, and also how many professed Christians not only lose sight of duty, but really lose the greatest joy of Christian life.
It was a glorious day for Madisonville when those six young mechanics met in the village barroom and concocted the plan for their society.
And the good has worked in two ways. The members find themselves happier, healthier, and stronger, for having given up their pipes and cups; and the poor unfortunate ones of the town are once again basking in the sunlight of peace, content, and plenty.
How very many professed Christian churches there are in our land which would be benefited by following the example of the six n.o.ble youths who still stand at the head of the _Madisonville Benevolent Society_.
LIFE THAT LASTS.
They err who measure life by years With false or thoughtless tongue.
Some hearts grow old before their time; Others are always young.
"Tis not the number of the lines On life"s fast-filling page, "Tis not the pulse"s added throbs Which const.i.tute their age.
Some souls are serfs among the free, While others n.o.bly thrive; They stand just where their fathers stood, Dead, even while they live.
Others, all spirit, heart, and sense, Theirs the mysterious power To live in thrills of joy or woe A twelve-month in an hour.
He liveth long who liveth well!
All other life is short and vain; He liveth longest who can tell Of living most for heavenly gain.
He liveth long who liveth well!
All else is being flung away; He liveth longest who can tell Of true things truly done each day.
AN INSTRUCTIVE ANECDOTE
Most young people are very fond of display in dress. Rings, breastpins, and similar superfluities, are in great demand among them.
We have known a girl to spend a month"s wages for a single article of this kind, and a young man to run in debt for a cane when he had scarcely clothing enough to appear respectable. The following story of a successful merchant will show to such how these things look to sensible people. Said he:
"I was seventeen years old when I left the country store where I had "tended" for three years, and came to Boston in search of a place.
Anxious, of course, to appear to the best advantage, I spent an unusual amount of time and solicitude upon my toilet, and when it was completed, I surveyed my reflection in the gla.s.s with no little satisfaction, glancing lastly and approvingly upon a seal ring which embellished my little finger, and my cane, a very pretty affair, which I had purchased with direct reference to this occasion. My first day"s experience was not encouraging. I traveled street after street, up one side and down the other, without success. I fancied, toward the last, that the clerks all knew my business the moment I opened the door, and that they winked ill-naturedly at my discomfiture as I pa.s.sed out. But nature endowed me with a good degree of persistency, and the next day I started again. Toward noon I entered a store where an elderly gentleman was talking with a lady near by the door. I waited until the visitor had left and then stated my errand.
""No sir," was the answer, given in a crisp and decided manner.
Possibly I looked the discouragement I was beginning to feel, for he added in a kindlier tone, "Are you good at taking a hint?"
""I don"t know," I answered, and my face flushed painfully.