TWO BEGGARS by Central Baptist

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 17, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 23.

TWO BEGGARS.

By Central Baptist

An old man rapped at the door of the writer and asked the privilege of working for a breakfast. The meal was given him and he ate it with a relish. Rising to go, he stood with his gray hair uncovered, with his hard face touched with a bit of emotion, and said, in substance: I thank you sincerely for this food. I was hungry. And while I thank you, I want to warn you against coming into the condition I am in. When I was young I worked hard and made money. I spent it in the saloons. I put hundreds of dollars there. Now I am too old to work. I must wear rags for clothes and beg for a living. The saloons drive me out and give me nothing. Last night I was driven from one and would have been in that terrible storm but for the kindness of a man who let me sleep in his shop.

A few days later another man of about the same age came begging for a dime. He claimed to be a cripple; the hospitals were full. The dime was given him. In an hour he was seen buying beer at a neighboring bar.

These are but samples of what may be learned every day by a little inquiry. There are thousands of old and young men reduced to beggary by drink; licensed saloons tempt and rob and curse them till they are penniless, and then send them adrift to beg from sober people or to steal. And in a good many cases these pauper makers stand behind their bars receiving the money which Christian charity has given these victims. Through the poor besotted beggar, whom he has reduced to beggary, the saloon keeper reaches out to rob sober people and fatten off of the sympathy which his own curse kindles. A business like this cannot buy respectability by any amount of taxes, and in God's sight no number of signatures and votes can relieve it of the deepest infamy.