The Lifeboat

"Well?" said Mr Denham.

"Well," continued the youth, "my mother gave a subscription; but being poor she could not give much."

"Well, well," said Mr Denham impatiently.

"And--and I gave a little, a very little, towards it too," said Guy.

"Your salary is not large; it was very foolish of you to waste your money in this way."

"Waste it, uncle!"

"Come, sir, what does all this tend to?" said Denham, sternly.

"I thought--I hoped--indeed I felt assured," said Guy earnestly, "that you would give something towards this good object--"

"Oh, did you?" said the merchant, cutting him short; "then, sir, allow me to say that you were never more mistaken in your life. I never give money in charity. I believe it to be a false principle, which tends to the increase of beggars an