remedial and preventive measures.

There are certain steps to be taken, as it were, in anticipation of actual suffering, and the call for direct relief.

What shall we do beforehand at the beginning-at

the outset ?

Let us hold the question before us in this light. Cases will be presented to us of families and individuals, who never needed, or never asked for assistance before. How shall these be met? Let us approach them kindly and compassionately. The Father of all expects this of us. But let us approach them under the light of sound judgment and wise discretion. A little incidental relief may be required which we perhaps can safely grant at our first visit. If so, let ourt one and manner-and our direct expression, if necessary,-declare the incidental nature of this relief and discourage all feelings of calculating or relying upon it for the future, except as the very last resort.

Let us then immediately inquire into the whole history of the case, and pursue every detail that may throw any light upon the course we are to take. A great deal is lost where such inquiries are not made-and often from the want of them plans have been adopted and followed which are to result in confusion or harm.

We may sometimes feel delicate about making such an investigation. It is always delicate to act as the agent of charitable regard and relief towards a fellow-being. There is no reason, however, to justify our not making a thorough and close examination of every case presented to our notice. A person comes to us with the plea that he needs our assistance; we should receive him kindly, but no time should be lost in assuring him that the most perfect candor and openness on his part is indispensable

to our future connexion with each other. He comes upon the ground that his situation is such as to require relief. We should give him to understand, from the first,-if he is not aware of it already,-that all the particulars and circumstances of his situation must be laid fairly and fully before us.

Obvious as this course is, have we not reason to fear that we have often neglected to pursue it? We shall not always find it pleasant to the applicants to enter with us into all the bearings of their cases. I have heard a great deal of complaint from them upon this score. "We did not expect so many inquiries would be made," "It is something new to have so many questions asked,"-"We used to call for aid, and get it at once, without all this investigation," are often to be heard from some of them.

Last winter a woman declined at once receiving any aid, if I could not give it without letting her relatives in the other part of the house know of it, or asking them certain questions, she had not answered herself.

An elderly gentleman came to me the other day for some aid to get back to Connecticut. I had a great deal of difficulty in bringing him to say where he boarded. The moment I told him I wished to go to the house where he had been staying, he bowed himself out of the room, and said, he had much rather not have my assistance if I intended to make any inquiries.

A woman was quite indignant last season at my asking her several plain and important questions. She said she had been aided for years, and always without being obliged to give all these answers.

Each of these cases I have since been satisfied was unworthy of assistance. It was no wonder the applicants wished to evade investigation.

Let us look now at the other side. Let me take a single example in proof of the advantage of making every possible inquiry.

ever.

A poor man early last spring came under the care of one of our Dispensary physicians. He was confined to his bed, with the prospect of being there for months. His disease could not be removed for several years, if His wife could do but little work. The family had been here but a short time, and were without acquaintance or friends. They were first found in a barn without windows, and with its roof about giving way beneath its load of snow. There appeared at first no resort but the House of Industry.

The physician wished in all such cases to develope the resources of the applicants, and to afford them relief rather through their own industry and economy, than from the private or public funds of charity. He felt, at first, that there was no hope of such procedure in the present instance. What could a bed-ridden man do for

his own support?

After many inquiries their good friend learned that the invalid in his early days had made nets. He had not lost the art. And it appeared at once that here was work even for the sick bed. Some materials were procured, and the man began to make fly-nets for horses. These sold readily during the warm weather. He has since been engaged upon net-bags and silk scarfs for ladies with equal success.

His earnings from May 15, to Oct. 8, were $31 17 cts. The family meanwhile have received the countenance and sympathy of a few kind friends. Cold victuals, or some such assistance has been occasionally given them.

But their chief dependence has been upon the industry of the sick man, and the prudence of his wife. How pleasant this is! and yet at the first view there appeared no prospect of anything but an entire reliance upon alms and a residence in the Poor House.

In the hope that they may sometimes lead to similar results, and in the assurance that they will save us a great deal of regret and pain, let us make our inquiries through all the details of every case. Let us take pains also to compare our own information with that procured or pos sessed by others. The friends and relations, when there are any, should always be applied to. Some trustworthy neighbors may lend us their light. These meetings at the Office may aid us much. And especially shall we all find it important to confer with the Dispensary physician, or any other physician that may be attending the family.

I have found so much benefit from the last measure, that I have come to the resolution never to allow myself to act without advice from the medical friend employed in each case. The physician cannot be long deceived. He has means of searching the truth, such as none of us possess. I know of no class in our community more worthy to take the lead, in all charitable movements, than our medical men. I am ever thankful to place myself under their direction.

After all due inquiries have been made, the question returns, What shall we do among the poor ?

It would be difficult to answer it in any general terms. Every case will afford its own data—and, in a measure, prescribe its own course. Sometimes a great deal must be given-and sometimes nothing-sometimes our assist

ance must flow forth as water-and sometimes it must be confined to most narrow channels-prudence, judgment, and personal observation should be our only, and our constant guides. Still there are a few general reflections that may be made to bear upon every case, perhaps-and to some of these I would call your attention.

It has long appeared to me desirable that a substitute should be found for the direct gift of money. Money can very easily be badly spent-we know how many temptations the poor have, like all others, to do thus with it. Besides, we are all aware that when it can be had for the asking, when it is lightly won, it is little valued, and soon gone. One must earn money if he would learn to value it aright, or be prudent in the use of it. How often do we express our fears of the effect of property upon its expectants or heirs. How many fair hopes for humanity and the world have been blasted by the foretaste of future affluence, or the possession of some rich legacy. When the poor receive our money, there is the same danger that it will lessen the spring of their own industry and enterprise, and induce habits of waste and profusion instead of those of economy and prudence. We have hitherto hoped to obviate the difficulties of the subject by giving relief in kind, as bread, fuel, food, clothing, and the like. But these articles can very readily be exchanged at many stores for the very articles for which we were afraid our money would have been spent. While the same great principle is equally violated, that in order to make a proper use of one's means, we should first learn their value in the process of obtaining them by our own industry and exertion. "I always dread," says a most enlightened philanthropist of one of our Southern cities, "I always dread giving the first half dollar."