Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1881 — Sacrificed. [ARTICLE]

Sacrificed.

Wordsworth, in his “Ode to Duty/’ prays, “Give unto mu, midn lowly wise, Tlie spirit ot self-s icrittce." An incident occurred in a boys’ school, some years ago, which illustrates the spirit of the self-sacrifice which the poet craved. One day, there landed in New York a number of German immigrants in great destitution. Tlie principal of the school called the boys together. Reading to them from a newspaper a statement of the emigrants’ distress, he asked-whether they would give something to relieve the poor Germans. Instantly there were vociferous offers. “I’ll give two dollars;” “I ll give one;” “I’ll give three,” cried out the excited boys, until a large sum was subscribed. But all the boys together had oniy enough pocket money to pay a small part of the amount. The principal said to them that undoubtedly their parents would pav the sums named if made an item of charge in the school bills. But what he wanted to know was whether they would give their own alms, without calling upon their parents. “Are you willing to give these poor creatures your dinner?” lie asked. The boys assenting, it was decided to select two of the most expensive dinners, to make their own meal on bread and molasses, and to give the difference in cost to the destitute emigrants. As the school was a large one, this difference was represented by a sum of money which greatly relieved the sufferers. But the Doys were also benefited. They were taught a lesson in self-denial, and he that giveth best who giveth that which cost him something.