Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
235
The Private Papers of Henry Ryecroft
·
George Gissing
185
III.
It
is
a
pleasant
thing
enough
to
be
able
to
spend
a
little
money
without
fear
when
the
desire
for
some
indulgence
is
strong
upon
one;
but
how
much
pleasanter
the
ability
to
give
money
away!
Greatly
as
I
relish
the
comforts
of
my
wonderful
new
life,
no
joy
it
has
brought
me
equals
that
of
coming
in
aid
to
another's
necessity.
The
man
for
ever
pinched
in
circumstances
can
live
only
for
himself.
It
is
all
very
well
to
talk
about
doing
moral
good;
in
practice,
there
is
little
scope
or
hope
for
anything
of
that
kind
in
a
state
of
material
hardship.
To-day
I
have
sent
S---
a
cheque
for
fifty
pounds;
it
will
come
as
a
very
boon
of
heaven,
and
assuredly
blesseth
him
that
gives
as
much
as
him
that
takes.
A
poor
fifty
pounds,
which
the
wealthy
fool
throws
away
upon
some
idle
or
base
fantasy,
and
never
thinks
of
it;
yet
to
S---
it
will
mean
life
and
light.
And
I,
to
whom
this
power
of
benefaction
is
such
a
new
thing,
sign
the
cheque
with
a
hand
trembling,
so
glad
and
proud
I
am.
In
the
days
gone
by,
I
have
sometimes
given
money,
but
with
trembling
of
another
kind;
it
was
as
likely
as
not
that
I
myself,
some
black
foggy
morning,
might
have
to
go
begging
for
my
own
dire
needs.
That
is
one
of
the
bitter
curses
of
poverty;
it
leaves
no
right
to
be
generous.
Of
my
abundance--abundance
to
me,
though
starveling
pittance
in
the
view
of
everyday
prosperity--I
can
give
with
happiest
freedom;
I
feel
myself
a
man,
and
no
crouching
slave
with
his
back
ever
ready
for
the
lash
of
circumstance.
There
are
those,
I
know,
who
thank
the
gods
amiss,
and
most
easily
does
this
happen
in
the
matter
of
wealth.
But
oh,
how
good
it
is
to
desire
little,
and
to
have
a
little
more
than
enough!
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
