 | When life is young |  |
214
“THE WORTHY POOR”
A dog of morals, firm and sure,
Went out to seek the “worthy poor.”
“Dear things!” she said, “I'll find them out,
And end their woes, without a doubt.”
Went out to seek the “worthy poor.”
“Dear things!” she said, “I'll find them out,
And end their woes, without a doubt.”
She wandered east, she wandered west,
And many dogs her vision blest,—
Some well-to-do, some grand indeed,
And some—ah! very much in need.
And many dogs her vision blest,—
Some well-to-do, some grand indeed,
And some—ah! very much in need.
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So poor they were!—without a bone,
Battered and footsore, sad and lone;
No friends, no help. “What lives they 've led,
To come to this!” our doggie said.
Battered and footsore, sad and lone;
No friends, no help. “What lives they 've led,
To come to this!” our doggie said.
“I should not give to them; I'm sure
They cannot be the worthy poor.
They must have fought or been disgraced;
My charity must be well placed.”
They cannot be the worthy poor.
They must have fought or been disgraced;
My charity must be well placed.”
Some dogs she found quite to her mind;
So thrifty they—so sleek and kind!
“Ah me!” she said, “were they in need,
To help them would be joy indeed.”
So thrifty they—so sleek and kind!
“Ah me!” she said, “were they in need,
To help them would be joy indeed.”
'T was still the same, day in, day out,—
The poorest dogs were poor no doubt;
But they were neither clean nor wise,
As she could see with half her eyes.
The poorest dogs were poor no doubt;
But they were neither clean nor wise,
As she could see with half her eyes.
'T is strange what faults come out to view
When folks are poor. She said: “'T is true
They need some help; but as for me,
I must not waste my charity.”
When folks are poor. She said: “'T is true
They need some help; but as for me,
I must not waste my charity.”
So home she went, and dropped a tear,
“I 've done my duty, that is clear.
I 've searched and searched the village round,
And not one ‘worthy poor’ I 've found.”
“I 've done my duty, that is clear.
I 've searched and searched the village round,
And not one ‘worthy poor’ I 've found.”
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And all this while, the sick and lame
And hungry suffered all the same.
They were not pleasant, were not neat—
But she had more than she could eat!
And hungry suffered all the same.
They were not pleasant, were not neat—
But she had more than she could eat!
O ye who have enough to spare!
To suffering give your ready care;
Waste not your charitable mood
Only in sifting out the good.
To suffering give your ready care;
Waste not your charitable mood
Only in sifting out the good.
For, on the whole, though it is right
To keep the “worthy poor” in sight,
This world would run with scarce a hitch
If all the rich were the worthy rich.
To keep the “worthy poor” in sight,
This world would run with scarce a hitch
If all the rich were the worthy rich.
| When life is young | |