Eurasians -- Fiction; India -- History -- British occupation, 1765-1947 -- Fiction
My duty and pleasure was especially to help Eurasians, those of my own
unfortunate caste or race. I knew them so well, for was I not one of
them, yet so highly favored? From the time I had met my unfortunate
schoolmates repulsed from many a door of the mercantile Christian
gentleman in Calcutta, I felt a special yearning towards this class. My
experience at that time was a life lesson to me. From that time never a
poor wanderer came to me searching for work or food but I thought of
what I might have been but for that dear friend of my childhood.
Further, it seemed to me that I was in a measure his steward, having in
trust his wealth to use for him. I never forgot his often saying, “Now
Charles, let us go to our religious service in feeding God’s poor.” He
never talked about religion and I never knew from his lips what his
creed was. His life was a creed in itself, and it might be put in these
words: “Be good yourself and do good to others.” What more can man do or
God require? This little simple creed seemed to permeate his whole
being, his thoughts, his soul, all his actions. I recall now his intense
earnestness, his tearful eyes, and the prayerful expression of his face
when he gave out the money or the food. He did this with such devotion
as if it was a sacred religious act in the presence of God, and was it
not? I have said something of this before but it will bear repeating
again and again. Was not this truly following Jesus? Canon Farrar says:
“Religion does not mean elaborate theologies, it does not mean
membership in this or that organization, it does not depend on orthodoxy
in matters of opinion respecting which Christians differ, but it means a
good heart and a good life.”
Jesus never made a creed or said anything but what the simplest mind
could understand. He went about doing good, giving his life for our
imitation, following which we may become pure in heart and see God, his
Father and our Father. Mr. Percy was a follower of Jesus. Often when I
was about to turn some one away without relief, the question would come,
“What would Mr. Percy do if he were here?” The answer at once came, a
gift was bestowed and I enjoyed many a blessing in this sacrament of
giving.
I think we may often be too careful in our charity as if we knew
everything and bore the whole responsibility. Some never give because
they were once “taken in” by some unworthy one. This is simply an excuse
for their own selfishness and stinginess. Better be deceived half the
time, than fail to help the real deserving, the other half. It is our
duty to give with the best discretion and then leave the responsibility
with God. Surely He will regard us as having done our duty to the best
of our ability. The world has no use for a man who never helps another.
He is only a useless part of humanity and the sooner he dies and is put
out of sight the better. Let him go, who cares? The man who has no poor
or distressed to mourn over his death has failed in life, a sad failure.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account