THE TRUE BEGGAR.
"Another tale of woe, Aunt,"—cried Kate, a few weeks after the visit to the false beggar. "But I suppose, this also is not true, and therefore you will not give any help."—"My dear Kate, all persons claim our belief till we have proved their falsehood. This may be true, though the other was false; never let us decide till we have found out the real truth, which can only be done by going to the spot."
The woman named the cot in which she lived; it was far distant, but nothing can be done without trouble, and our three friends set out for the distant dwelling. The day was stormy and the road dirty; but, in the work of pity, who would be stopped by such evils! Besides, the badness of the weather was the very reason why want and sickness most needed succour.
It was after much trouble and many mistakes, that the cottage was found, and Blanche was fearing this also was a fraud; but when they did enter the hovel, how glad were they that they had not given up the search: it was all true. The sick husband was trying to warm himself by a small fire; two little children, with no clothing but a ragged shirt each, were on the floor, thin and pale from hunger; the woman had a baby in her arms, crying for food.—Blanche and Kate shed some tears, for their hearts were full; but, drying them quickly, they thought it was better to act than to weep. The kind Aunt calmly thought over all that was best to be done, and then set about it. She got food for the children and their mother, and wine and physic for the poor father. Then they all went to work, and made clothes for the naked little ones. It was more than a week before all they wished could be done; but it was done. Those who were ready to perish were fed, and cured, and clothed.
"Now you see, my dears, how right it is to visit the cases of distress, of which you hear; some are true. By seeing them with our own eyes, we know what is most wanted. It is seldom wise to give money to the poor; they don't know how to make the best of it; and by not giving to all, we have more to give to a few."