Page:What to do for Uncle Sam; a first book of citizenship (IA whattodoforuncle00bail).pdf/90

86 stands outside and begs for some food. He says that he has no money, and has not eaten in a long time. What shall this little housewife do? Shall she offer him the toast and the cereal that the family left, or just shut the door?

Neither of these ways of treating a beggar is Uncle Sam’s way. If the tramp has been ill, he needs to go to the town hospital. If he has no work to do and is willing to work, there may be an office of a charitable society in the town where he can he sent to get work. If he is well and does not want to work, he deserves no breakfast.

Find out just what places there are in your town where people who are strong and able to work can be helped: The churches, the settlements, and the charitable societies having employment bureaus are all ready to help beggars to help themselves. No money or food should be given, without return in the form of work, to anyone who can help himself or herself.

Taking care of the orphans, the old people, and the ill, and the poor of the United States costs many millions of dollars every year. We ought to try and save as much of this tax money as we can that it may be used for other purposes that will help the whole country instead of a few.

Uncle Sam wants boys and girls to save their town some of its hospital bills by taking good