"IN THE CAUSE OF CHARITY."

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 249, 20 October 1877, Page 4

"IN THE CAUSE OF CHARITY."

"A Bohemian" thus recounts in the Press his experiences in the streets of Chriatohurch last Saturday night: — I stroll on until the sound of music arrests my attention, and I see a crowd of people. My Bohemian instincts are at onca aroused. Besides, here is an Opportunity of exorcising the demon of memory, who is by far too obtrusive (o be pleasant. Therefore I make one of the crowds, and as a silent observer in a few minutes have my mental sketchbook filled with pictures of life. The central figure in the foreground is one of our prominent citizens who is always to the fore in the cause of charity, and whose good deeds are written in letters of gold amongst us. Upon the table in front there is a money-box and a subscription list, the whole being lighted ap by a lamp whose ruddy flame outvies and quenches the pale, modest beams of the moon. I ask one near me what this means, and learn that it is one method of collecting subscriptions for our starving fellow-subjects in India. that chord of sympathy with distress which, despite the roughness of the j outer busk, lies hidden in the breasts of all Britons, has been struck by the eloquent word painting of my brother Bohemians in the East, and ffigbt noble is the response. Though Under the Southern Cross, with thousands of miles of ocean between them and the sea-girt island which has reared them, and sent them forth to Wage a peaceful war of conquest over difficulties and dangers, the hearts of Britannia's sons are unchanged and their sympathy flows forth as freely at the antipodes as at home. Insensibly my notebook is out, and as the various phases of character come forward as in a kaleidoscope, J register them. Let me briefly reproduce some few. Room, Jadiee and gentlemen all, for the mutehanfi prince. Arrayed, not in purple and fiae linen, but in glossy broadeloth, the band attracts hiui and he strolls over. Our friend in charge has his eye on him, and iu a few seconds his aama slanda on the list for a goodly

sum. The next to appear is of a totally different type. It is one of the backbone snd sinew of the country — the artisan. He is accompanied by his wife — his " missus," as he affectionately calls her — end has evidently just returned from a marketing journey, judging from the the enormous basket with which ha is loade '. He does not want to stop, but curiosity, which ungallant writers have asserted to be the dower of the fairer portion of creation, induces bis better-half to persuade him. When, however, he learns the object of the gathering, his contribution ia promptly forthcoming. The " missus" drops it into the money-box, and then arm iu arm they go off lovingly together. Hardly have they got clear of the crowd when a gentleman who has been pouring sundry libations at the shrina of Bacchus, steadied himself for an instant in front of our friend's table. He is in the jovial phase, and after some difficulty with the words, wbioh will come out altogether, requests to be informed of the nature of the show. Ha seems to think that there is an itinerant theatre someI where about, and that Mr M. is sustaining that important part technically known as "first robber." However, by dint of a little patience, he is made aware of the precise object of the instrumental display. Making a few sotto voce remarks as to the disagreeableness of being short of food — "tucker," he calls it — interspersed with personal reminiscences of a lengthened fast in the back country, he proceeda to investigate his pocket. From a miscellaneous assortment of coins he selects half a sovereign, and putting it in the box, lurches onward on his way. Bacchanalian though he be, his heart is surely in the right place, and one recollects the words " charity cpyereth a multitude of sins." Following upon our friend, who is yet audible ia the distance making remarks, come a merry group reprenentative of young Canterbury. It is composed of two young ladies and a youth, who is evidently proud of his position a* escort. They listen to the muio of the band — which is playing one of those dreamy German waltzes — awhile, and then the printed notice which is conspicuously posted up takes their attention. The girls are evidently not in funds, but they urge their youthful protector to contribute, and he does so rather shamefacedly, but still readily. They loiter yet longer to listen to the music which sounds sweetly in the open air and then they too, like ihe rest of my characters, melt away. It has come to be considered almost as a foregone conclusion that the genus larrikin is utterly and entirely bad, but there are fifteen or sixteen who during my stay come up to the table and hand iu their sixpences and shillings. No you see there is hope even of the larrikins, though we do say iiard things about them sometimes. For some moments the lighted spaca in front of the table, upou which the glare of the torch strikes, is empty. Around the hand in the back ground ia still gathered n crowd composed mainly of jnveniles, and I begin to think that further opportunity for study of character will not be afforded me. A little stream of contributors, who put their mites into the box and pass on sets in, and then there is again a lull. Presently into the lighted space steps a figure which attracts my attention. It is that ol a female in deep mourning, evidently one who had recently lost the bread winner of the family. For a moment she hesitates us to whether she stall stop or not, but ultimately remains. So soon as Bhe understands the meaning of the appeal to the benevolent a pained look crosses her faoa. She draws a little to one side, and I can see her counting the contents of her purse — ah, so slenderly filled. Her heart ia good towards the cause, but she will have to deny herself something if she follows it promptings. For an inataut only she wavers, and then going forward she drops the small contribntion into the box, and walks quickly away. Many names are on the list, some of them for princely sums, aud all honor to them; but to my mind that widow's mite was the most notable of all. Of course I am but a Bohemian, and therefore may have lax notious of the fitness of things, but still I cannot help thinking that those who " do jrood by stealth and blush to find it fame" in a humble way will have as large a balance on the per contra side as our friends who fjivo their hundreds or so, accompanied by flourish of trumpet. But ten o'clock peala out from tha G-overnmant buildings. The moon has waned and finally set, and the square begins to look dark and deserted. The bond has retired from active service, and its component parts are refreshing with malt, liquids at the neighboring hotels. It is time to go home, and bs I go through the now almost deserted streets I muse on the muny unselfish acts which have that ni»ht come under my notice in the cause of charity.