The million-peopled city
Garwood, John
1853
Concluding Remarks.
Let the reader behold the class: | |
" There is not a father by whose side, in his daily or his nightly walk, these creatures pass-there is not a mother among all the ranks of loving mothers in this land-there is no one risen from the state of childhood, who shall not be responsible in his or her degree for the enormity. | |
" There is not a country throughout the earth on which it will not bring a curse; there is no religion upon earth | |
86 | that it would not deny; there is no people upon earth it would not put to shame." [1] Let not the reader turn away from these his neighbours. "Though poor, ragged, and degraded, the outcast is thy brother still-why shun and despise him? In years past such an one might have been saved; yet you refused to counsel him. It is a solemn reflection, 'I might have saved a soul from vice and infamy, yet I refused.' Ye who have been remiss in duty, who have not cared when a brother erred and perished, awaken to new life, and be not slack in the performance of duty. It is not too late-scores may yet be saved by your judicious efforts, by your counsels, your tears, your affectionate hearts and open hands. A kiss is better than a blow. Kindliness is a moral lever, judiciously used, which will move the world and raise it to life, light, and joy." [2] Let the reader especially reach forth a helping hand to this class. The souls of all are in one sense alike important. They are all endued with immortality, and that immortality will be either of bliss or woe. But, in another sense, this class is the most important of all to be saved. They are more an object of pity; they are by far the most dangerous and costly to society; and the power of the Gospel is the more honourably shown in their change. God is more glorified and man is more benefited by the deliverance of these outcasts than in other classes. Nor are they by any means, when other criminal and vicious classes are added to them, that minority of the population of the one half of London, which the other half, unacquainted intimately with the condition of these, are too much dis- posed to imagine. |
Footnotes: [1] Charles Dickens. [2] " American Christian Advocate." |