Journal of Dr GFW

Morning thick, cloudy and has every appearance of rain. I left at an early hour to discharge my obligations to numerous patients and among the number was a poor widow woman and her son, both confined to bed. Now the contrast. Here was a place where help was needed, where the slightest deed would be received with gratitude and acknowledged as a favor. There was Lash, rich and everything round him, all standing ready to give him a drought of water, soothing him, and sympathizing with him, weeping for his suffering, and he demanding it as a right, and was not even thankful for every favor conferred, yet not half so patient as this poor widow. Again see the charity, see the goodness of people. Here this wealthy could have more to wait on him than was necessary, even without asking. And the needy, by strong solicitations, could barely get enough. This act of people shows the full extent of Christianity prevailing here. No, not a Christian heart beats where such things are practiced. I blush for such goodness; I am almost ashamed that I am one of the human family. I thought it would be just for to pay more attention to the woman and her son than to Lash. I acted accordingly and my conscience approved of what I had done. As said the Poet, "For one much neglected use are Riches worth our care."