Page:The A. B. C. of Colonization.djvu/20

15 just in all his dealings; the luxury of doing good, or, more properly speaking, the duty of helping our fellow-creatures, can be performed by the poor as well as the rich, and thus God's works of charity may always he. known by His allowing all to help. To these heads of families I now turn, and call before them young friends less girls and helpless orphans; I have some on my list. I will ask these parents, "Will you take charge of these young girls? will you protect them on board ship?" Sure I am no right-minded man could, at such a time as this, and under such circumstances, refuse to extend his care and protection to such young females. Equally certain I am that the reciprocity of feeling would be mutual; that the friendless or orphan girl, seeing the protection afforded her, would in turn aid the mother—tend the child of those who thus acted the part of parents; and nature Would not be wanting in doing her part; the child would not readily forget the orphan girl that so kindly tended it on board ship, for kindness is in general the origin of affection; the infant mind would easily take the impress, and thus religion would instil "Do as you would be done by;" the rich and the poor, the aged and the young would, in a work of this nature, feel the sacred influence of the God of charity.

That unprotected young women require guardianship on board vessels, I have only to call your attention. Gentlemen, and that of the public, to the case of the Foundling orphan girls from Dublin, and bear in mind how they were sacrificed on board ship by merciless and unprincipled men; I invoke, then, of all honest men and virtuous Women protection for these poor girls. How have I seen them agitated with fear when asking me what protection they were to have on board ship! Before, however, heads of families are asked to look