MEAN PEOPLE | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 27, 1881

MEAN PEOPLE.

"I CANNOT give," said the well-to-do lady, "but I think Mrs. ———, across the street, will be very glad to do so." And thus she eased her own conscience and did a mean act.

We recall a wealthy person of our acquaintance who used never to give money, excusing herself because she gave her time so liberally in collecting it from others. "One cannot be expected to give time and money too," she was wont to say. Whenever she was asked to buy a book or a picture, or give for never-ceasing fairs or festivals, she would say, "Mrs. B——— is very kind. I am sure she will patronize you."

We hardly know a meaner thing than this, except it be the case of a wealthy man in a neighboring city who will not pay for the sprinkling of thirty feet in front of his office, because he knows the water-cart as it wets the street in front of his neighbors on either side of him will not omit him. —Congregationalist.