From the beginning of my Christian experience I have devoted myself to the poor.  I prayed God to give me opportunity to be helpful to those who were destitute of the comforts of life.  The people of Medicine Lodge were so good to aid me.  I could go to the stores and ask for flour, sugar and different kinds of eatables and get them.  There was one man I never asked in vain, when I wished aid for the poor, that was C. Q. Chandler, a man who was able to help.  I have taken poor children to his house and he has given me orders at the dry-goods stores to clothe them, so they could attend school.  He has given me money frequently to get fuel and clothes for those who needed them.  One Christmas he wrote me a letter, asking me for the names of all the poor ones and asking me to name something they needed.  I did, and all got something useful.  Such men are worthy to be stewards of God’s treasury.

For years I made it my duty, every fall, to go from house to house to gather clothes for the poor families, wash women and others who had not time to sew for their children.  I never allowed a child to stay out of day or Sunday school, for want of clothes.  I would sort out these clothes and distribute as needed.  Persons would say, “I would be afraid I would make people angry.”  I said if every one feels that way I will say:  “You are not the one I am sent to.”  I never hurt any ones feelings by offering them these things.

There was a family by the name of French who came into a neighborhood about three miles from town.  I heard they were destitute.  I filled my buggy and went there and sure enough they were sadly in need.  I brought the things in just such as was needed.  The family was large.  The woman cried like her heart would break, just for gratitude; she could not thank me enough.  It takes so little to make some people happy.

I read of a miserable miser once who was on the verge of suicide by the side of a river.  A little girl came to him saying:  “Please sir, my mother is sick and hungry.  Please give me something so I can get her something to eat.”  The man said within himself:  “I will do this for the child before I die.”  He went to a bakershop and got her a full basket.  Then she looked so weak he carried it home to her mother.  The poor woman on the pallet of straw, kissed his hands and blessed him.  He thought of the money he might use to make people happy.  He concluded he would use it before he died for he had enjoyed for the first time in his life the peace that comes from giving.  After this his life was a blessing to himself and others.  He had found the best use of life.

I once read of a beautiful story of one of the early fathers of the church.  He gave away everything even to sufficient clothes to keep himself warm.  A rich kind hearted woman made him a coat of fur very expensive.  Next time she saw him he did not have it.  “Where is that coat father,” she asked.  He replied:  “I thought so much of it I laid it up in heaven.  Where moth and rust doth not corrupt and where thieves do not break through and steal.”  He had given it to the first shivering man he met.