In our Library - where Books are free

Books - Factual

Sociology

Poverty - by James Platt

only to earn, but to save for the morrow that must come to all, when to work is impossible. Copy nature. I have read that, "when the morrow is to be hot, Providence waters all the little herbs with dew; when 'tis to be wet, the dews are laid by for another day."

Believe me, Providence is bountiful, but never wasteful. It is only by wise thrift that we can be ill dependent of others, and able to relieve the necessities of the thoughtless and improvident. The management of the poor is a very difficult question, but must be faced. There is much to I be done, much that can be done, in improving our poor laws, and the management of our charitable institutions, so as to help the helpless and the aged, without fostering pauperism in the young and able. We do not want more legislation so much as a more earnest desire, and a better system, for carrying out the laws we have ; but the doing this, needs sympathy, tempered by discretion. The wants of the sick, the disabled, the aged, the helpless, should be relieved without reference to character or antecedents; but it should be distinctly understood that "no one able to work should be entitled, either legally or morally, to relief from others."

There should be no possibility of the old dying miserably in filthy rooms, without fire, or food, or a single word of kindness to ease their sad descent into the grave ; but to do this thoroughly and effectually, it should be understood that the lazy, the drunken, and the vicious must suffer the results of their own misdeeds ; and if helped by society, society must demand in return a reformation of their character. If a man can, and will not work, it may seem cruel, but is real kindness, to say to him, "Neither shalt thou eat."