Page:The collected works of Theodore Parker volume 7.djvu/58

54 own bard lot, though it is not hard; or hours when grief presses heavy on your heart, go and look after these children, find them employment, and help them to stait in life; you will find your murmurings are ended, and your sorrow forgot.

It does not seem difficult to do something for the poor. It would be easy to provide comfortable and convenient houses, and at a reasonable rate. The experiment has been tried by one noble-hearted man, and thus far works well. I trust the same plan, or one better, if possible, will soon be tried on a larger scale, and so repeated, till we are free from that crowding together of miserable persons, which now disgraces our city. It seems to mo that a store might be established where articles of good quality should be furnished to the poor at cost. Something has already been done in this way, by the "Tredes’ Union," who need it much less. A practical man could easily manage the details of such a scheme. All reform and elevation of this class of men must begin by mending their circumstances, though of course it must not end there. Expect no improvement of men that are huugry, naked, and cold. Few men respect themselves in that condition. Hope not of others what would be impossible for you! You may give better pay when that is possible. I can hardly think it the boast of a man, that he has paid less for his labour than any other in his calling. But it is a common boast, though to me it seems the glory of a pirate! I cannot believe there is that sharp distinction between week-day religion and Sunday religion, or between justice and charity, that is sometimes pretended, A man both just and charitable would find his charity run over into his justice, and the mixture improve its quality. When I remember that all value is the result of work, and see likewise that no man gets rich by his own work, I cannot help thinking that labour is often wickedly underpaid, and capital sometimes as grossly over-fed. I shall believe that capital is at the mercy of labour, when the two extremes of society ^change places. Is it Christian or manly to reduce wages in hard times, and not raise them in fair times? and not raise them again in extraordinary times? Is it God's will that large dividends, and small wages should be paid at the same time? The duty of the