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What is Happiness

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An Honest Man...

[Page 58]

BIG, RICH AND A STRONG PILLAR

Many a time have the days been dark and gloomy, many a time did the shadows envelope me until I could see no light beyond. Many a time have I broken my last five dollar bill, and could see naught ahead. Once, when I was in the depths, and felt that God-forsaken, desolate, dreary, hopeless, sinking sensation, which only the "depths" can bring, I stopped in Charlotte, and told my friend of my need. My stock of Remedy was almost exhausted, and I was without means to replenish it, and could see no way.

If I could only borrow one hundred dollars, clear sailing was ahead of me. We put our heads together, and concocted our own sweet plans for testing human nature, humanity and Christianity.

There was a name always before the public, when help in any good cause was publicly needed. One of our big, rich and a strong Pillar, his name headed the many big charitable donations, with the

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biggest sum. Let an appeal be made in the public prints for aid in any good cause, he was ever on the alert to respond, so I determined to write to him.

I did so, and told him of my great need. I asked him to lend me one hundred dollars, and I would certainly return it in ninety days, but, unfortunately I added: ''If you help me, let this be between You and Me. I do not expect it to be a public thing.” Consequently, I received the following:

"Dear Madam,

I regret it is out of my power to comply with your request" - and so on and so on.

And thus we sermonize and moralize as we march onward, but that was years ago, before I had jotted down as many "morals" as I can show now, or understood the nature of public charities as I do now.

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