Mr. Lee started his horses, and the procession again moved on. Flora wondered that her father should deny the poor man. She pitied him very much, when he said he had eaten nothing since the morning before. She thought what a dreadful thing it was to be hungry, and have nothing to eat.
She wanted to cry, she felt so badly, and she thought her father was very hard not to give him a little money when he needed it so much. If she had only had some money, she would have given him the whole of it.
“You did very wrong, Henry,” said Mr. Lee, when they had gone a little way farther.
“Wrong, sir?” replied Henry. “Why, didn’t the man say he had eaten nothing for a whole day.”
“That may be, and it may not be.”
“But I know he was hungry by the looks of him,” said Flora.
“Those who have any thing to give away ought to be very careful to whom they give it. The man looked like a drunkard. Very likely he will spend the money you gave him, Henry, for liquor. It is not charity to give a man rum.”
“Do you think he is a bad man, father?” asked Flora.
“I don’t know that he is. I told him to go to the house, and your mother would give him something to eat. You saw that he wanted money more than food. I am afraid, Henry, your money will do him more hurt than good.”
“I hope not, uncle.”