SHARING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 93, 20 April 1932, Page 16

SHARING.

(This story comes to us from the United States.) Those living in the drought-stricken States have had many opportunities to learn helpful lessons from those about them in regard to giving and sharing with others. One morning the writer noticed an elderly negro removing btt*. from a garbage container in a neighbouring yard. She called and asked if he was searching for food, and upon being told that he was she invited him to come and let her give him something fresh and hot. She prepared a hearty breakfast, and he received it gratefully. Within a few minutes she paused from her work to step to the back door to see if he desired more, and was astonished to see him dividing his breakfast with two dirty little dogs. She a6ked if they belonged to him, and was told that they were his "two best friends." She remarked that she has given him a rather hearty meal, but if he was hungry enough to eat from a garbage can it was barely enough for himself without dividing with two hungry little dogs. The negro replied that they had come hundreds of miles with him as he searched for work, and that he always divided with them. To quote his words: "Yes, ma'am, I don't get too little to divide with thcin—we shares and shares alike. We've come all the way from Oklahoma on 10 cents a clay, five for them and five for me. They loves me, and All looks out for them. Ah doesn't like to ask the white folks for food for three, so Ah just gets what Ah can find out of the garbage cans. When Ah eats, they eats." Additional food was gladly given him, not only for himself, but for his two friends, and the writer was further impressed to see him give them only the amount of food he felt it would take to appease their hunger, and ho selected a like amount for himself. The remainder he carefully wrapped in a paper, remarking that it would serve as an evening meal. As the negro trudged down the alley, with his two friends romping about him in a happy, trustful manner, she thought again of his words, "But not too little to divide —we shares and shares alike," and she considered also the lesson in economy which she had witnessed and wondered how many would have indulged in eating all they received instead of being satisfied with just enough.