Life and Literature Part 111

Poor folks' wisdom goes for little.

--_Dutch._

1535

He that thinks he can afford to be negligent, is not far from being poor.

--_Dr. Johnson._

1536

Poor and content, is rich and rich enough; But riches, is as poor as winter, To him that ever fears he shall be poor.

1537

Speak gently, kindly, to the poor; Let no harsh term be heard; They have enough they must endure, Without an unkind word.

--_George W. Hangford._

1538

The poor, the humble, and your dependents, will often be afraid to ask their due from you: be the more mindful of it yourself.

1539

The poor, who envies not the rich, who pities his companions in poverty, and can spare something for him that is still poorer, is, in the realms of humanity, a king of kings.

1540

The man who says, "Let me wait a little, when I have something to spare, I will relieve the poor," will never relieve them.

1541

THE COMPLAINTS OF THE POOR.

"And wherefore do the poor complain?"

The rich man ask'd of me: "Come, walk abroad with me," I said, "And I will answer thee."

'Twas evening, and the frozen streets Were cheerless to behold; And we were wrapp'd and coated well, And yet we were a-cold.

We met an old, bareheaded man, His locks were thin and white; I ask'd him what he did abroad In that cold winter's night.

The cold was keen, indeed, he said-- But at home no fire had he; And therefore he had come abroad To ask for charity.

We met a young barefooted child, And she begged loud and bold; I asked her what she did abroad When the wind it blew so cold.

She said her father was at home, And he lay sick abed; And therefore was it she was sent Abroad to beg for bread.

We saw a woman sitting down Upon a stone to rest; She had a baby at her back, And another at her breast.

I ask'd her why she loiter'd there, When the night-wind was so chill; She turn'd her head, and bade the child That scream'd behind, be still--

Then told us that her husband served, A soldier, far away; And therefore to her parish she Was begging back her way.

I turn'd me to the rich man then, For silently stood he; "You ask'd me why the poor complain And these have answer'd thee!"

--_Old Magazine._

1542

The world caresses the rich, though vulgar and ill-bred, and avoids the poor man of merit in the threadbare coat.

1543

ONE "ALWAYS RIGHT;" THE OTHER, "NEVER WRONG."

A worthy old Ayrs.h.i.+re farmer had the portraits of himself and his wife painted. When that of her husband, in an elegant frame, was hung over the fireplace, the gudewife remarked in a sly manner: "I think, gudeman, noo that ye've gotten your picture hung up there, we should just put in below't, for a motto, like, 'Aye richt!'"

"Deed may ye, my woman," replied her husband in an equally pawkie tone; "and when ye get yours hung up over the sofa there, we'll just put up anither motto on't, and say, 'Never wrang.'"

1544

Not every man who has an easy place has a soft pillow.

1545

CONCEALING POVERTY.

If rich, it is easy enough to conceal our wealth; but, if poor, it is not quite so easy to conceal our poverty. We shall find it less difficult to hide a thousand guineas, than one hole in our coat.

1546

Poverty is the only burden which grows heavier when loved ones help to bear it.

1547