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CHARITY. ¢ 36

one who has it is rich in the: sight of God;
one who has’ it not, is poor indeed, though
he may have lands and money in abundance.

The most common form of charity is
that of giving alms to the poor: and every
one who loves his money so well that he
cannot part with a portion of what is not
necessary for his own comfort, or, that of his
family, to aid the needy and the helpless,
in the sight of God and true wisdom, is
worse than a beggar. Rich in the things‘of «
this world, he is pinched with selfishness,
which, implies a miserable dearth of true.
riches. .

Another form of charity is that of putting
kind and favorable constructions upon the
conduct of others. A person who is harsh
in Judging and. severe in speaking of others
is destitute of charity. I am» afraid that
some of my young friends, who are apt to
Say unpleasant things of their companions,
are in this condition.

Think a moment of it, my gentle reader;
—why should you desire to wound the heart
of another—to tear his character to pieces ?
Have you any better right to injure the

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