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And hear me but a moment further, while I here pledge the town, and here lay down on the table, or in the hand of the moderator, the written proposition that if the town will now vote to raise the sum of five thousand dollars, in five annual payments of a thousand dollars a year, to purchase a town-farm, buildings, etc., etc., and raise and empower a committee to act with the selectmen of the town in the purchase of it and arrangement, and choose a town-agent to look directly after the affairs of the paupers, I will, and hereby do, present the town with the like sum of five thousand dollars -- making ten thousand in all -- to carry out, in the best possible manner, the design of humanity, benevolence, and simple justice."

The old town-hall of Crampton rung with the shouts of all the people when young Sherman closed. The young men of the town rallied around him; his friends congratulated him; a great sensation, lasting for several minutes, pervaded the whole meeting. Knots of voters here and there discussed the question -- some even yet holding out; others giving in, and going for the reform.

At length the moderator, for the third or fourth time, calling for order, Lawyer Tools stepped forward and made the following motion:

Resolved, That in accordance with the proposition of James Sherman, Esq., to appropriate five thousand dollars to the purchase of a town-farm, with suitable buildings, etc., etc., for the home of the paupers of this town, provided a like sum of five thousand dollars be voted and raised for this purpose by the voters of the town now present; the whole to be expended or appropriated as the town shall direct, under the care of a committee, town-agent, and the selectmen of the town -- be it therefore voted, that this proposition be, and hereby is, accepted, and that a tax necessary to raise the first payment of a thousand dollars be now laid.

The moderator called for remarks. Mr. Savage said a few words and sat down; nobody else followed. The vote was put and carried almost unanimously, only ten men voting in the negative.

And thus ended the slavery of Crampton poor-house! Thus came to pass Mag Davis' dream! Thus was there a Providence seen shaping the end of a poor boy, and making wealth the instrument of good.

It is the inordinate and selfish love of money that is its evil root.

If you are blessed with wealth, reader, go make it your instrument of good to those who pine away daily, sorrowing over crumbs and bones, while you are feeding on the fatted calf and on the sweetest loaves. The prayers of the poor are ever ascending to heaven. Oh! let them be in thanksgiving for your mercy -- not the imprecations of wrath for your cruelty and neglect.

CHAPTER XLIV.
THE new Town Farm. Dreams take a high rank. Mercy mingles in the cup of Poverty. Reunion of old Ideas, nothing inconsistent with modern improvements and innovations.

The work of years -- the effort to introduce a salutary reform is oft the work of years, so slow are mankind to adopt new theories and practices for old, even poor ones -- "the work of years" pushed on by men of clear heads, determined and benevolent hearts, was at last carried. Crampton, that for a long time had refused to her paupers the kindly attention and Christian care which their enfeebled state demanded, and that had even joined other communities in the unrighteous work of degrading them, either by a public sale under the hammer of the auctioneer, or by the private sale of the overseers, to the lowest bidder for the year, and so emulating or endorsing the high injustice of slavery itself -- now placed herself on the side of humanity and truth. She voted to do to those who had no helper, the work of tender and merciful guardianship, and furnish them a home in their old age of bruises and poverty and shame.

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

"I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was athirst, and ye gave me drink; naked, and ye clothed me; sick and in prison, and ye came unto me."

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

"Then said the master of the feast to his servant. 'Go out into the highways and hedges and bring in hither the lame, the halt, and the blind.'"

"Go ye and tell John, * * * 'The poor have the Gospel preached unto them.'"

"I am come to seek and to save them that are lost."

GOSPELS.

The work thus happily begun, went on. * * * And now, who of all the citizens of Crampton so fit to represent it in the office of Town Agent, as James Sherman himself? It was tendered him, and accepted.

Here is then one redeemed from the miserable and degraded condition of pauperism, as alas! too plainly visible among us in our free New England, who in his elevation shows that society owes it to herself to burst off the fetters of the poor, and make them free; to give them the guardianship of a true humanity; to supply all their wants in the spirit of true Christianity, and a hopeful, peaceful end.