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Literary
December 3, 1767
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A wealthy father divides his estate among three sons, reserving a diamond for the most generous act. The first son's fidelity in returning a deposit is mere duty; the second's rescue of a drowning child is humanity; the third's saving of his sleeping enemy earns the prize as true generosity.
Merged-components note: Continuation of the moral tale 'Characteristic of a true generous SPIRIT' across pages; label adjusted to literary for the narrative apologue.
Clippings
1 of 2
OCR Quality
88%
Good
Full Text
Characteristic of a true generous SPIRIT.
Generosity consists in doing good to our enemies, and this is the subject of an apologue by M. Lichtwehr.
An honest father of a family, full of wealth and years, had a mind to settle, before he died, his succession between his three sons, and divide his wealth among them, the fruit of his labours and industry. After having made three equal divisions, and assigned to each his portion, I have still, added he, a diamond of great value; and I design it for him of you who shall best deserve it by some noble and generous action, and I allow you a quarter of a year to qualify yourselves to obtain it. The three sons immediately disperse, but the first son makes this report: Rather, during my absence a stranger found himself so circumstanced as to be obliged to entrust me with his whole fortune; he had no security from me in writing, and he would not have been able to produce any proof, nor the least token of the deposit, but I faithfully restored it to him. Is there not something laudable in this fidelity? "Thou hast done," answered the old Gentleman, "what was only thy duty: If thou hadst been capable of acting otherwise, the baseness should have weighed thee down with shame to the grave; for probity is a duty. Thy action is an action of justice, but not an action of generosity." The second son pleaded his cause, in his turn, much in these words: I happened to be, during my journey, on the strand of a lake; a child had unguardedly fallen into it, and would have been drowned had not I ventured in and saved his life, in presence of many inhabitants of the village, bordering on the lake, who can attest the truth of the fact. Very well, said the father, interrupting him; there is nothing noble in this action, it is only a point of humanity. The last of the three brothers then spoke: "Father, said he, I found my mortal enemy, who had wandered out of his road, asleep, without knowing it, on the brink of an abyss; the least motion made by him, at the time of waking, must have tumbled him headlong into it; his life was in my hands: I took care to awake him with the proper precautions, and dragged him away from that fatal place." "Hah! my dear son, cried the good father with transports, and tenderly embracing him, thine undoubtedly is the precious jewel, for thou hast the best claim to it."
Generosity consists in doing good to our enemies, and this is the subject of an apologue by M. Lichtwehr.
An honest father of a family, full of wealth and years, had a mind to settle, before he died, his succession between his three sons, and divide his wealth among them, the fruit of his labours and industry. After having made three equal divisions, and assigned to each his portion, I have still, added he, a diamond of great value; and I design it for him of you who shall best deserve it by some noble and generous action, and I allow you a quarter of a year to qualify yourselves to obtain it. The three sons immediately disperse, but the first son makes this report: Rather, during my absence a stranger found himself so circumstanced as to be obliged to entrust me with his whole fortune; he had no security from me in writing, and he would not have been able to produce any proof, nor the least token of the deposit, but I faithfully restored it to him. Is there not something laudable in this fidelity? "Thou hast done," answered the old Gentleman, "what was only thy duty: If thou hadst been capable of acting otherwise, the baseness should have weighed thee down with shame to the grave; for probity is a duty. Thy action is an action of justice, but not an action of generosity." The second son pleaded his cause, in his turn, much in these words: I happened to be, during my journey, on the strand of a lake; a child had unguardedly fallen into it, and would have been drowned had not I ventured in and saved his life, in presence of many inhabitants of the village, bordering on the lake, who can attest the truth of the fact. Very well, said the father, interrupting him; there is nothing noble in this action, it is only a point of humanity. The last of the three brothers then spoke: "Father, said he, I found my mortal enemy, who had wandered out of his road, asleep, without knowing it, on the brink of an abyss; the least motion made by him, at the time of waking, must have tumbled him headlong into it; his life was in my hands: I took care to awake him with the proper precautions, and dragged him away from that fatal place." "Hah! my dear son, cried the good father with transports, and tenderly embracing him, thine undoubtedly is the precious jewel, for thou hast the best claim to it."
What sub-type of article is it?
Fable
Prose Fiction
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Generosity
Apologue
Moral Tale
Inheritance
Enemies
Fidelity
Humanity
What entities or persons were involved?
By M. Lichtwehr
Literary Details
Title
Characteristic Of A True Generous Spirit.
Author
By M. Lichtwehr
Subject
Generosity Consists In Doing Good To Our Enemies
Form / Style
Moral Apologue In Prose
Key Lines
"Thou Hast Done," Answered The Old Gentleman, " What Was Only Thy Duty : If Thou Hadst Been Capable Of Acting Otherwise, The Baseness Should Have Weighed Thee Down With Shame To The Grave; For Probity Is A Duty. Thy Action Is An Action Of Justice, But Not An Action Of Generosity."
Very Well, Said The Father, Interrupting Him; There Is Nothing Noble In This Action, It Is Only A Point Of Humanity.
" Hah! My Dear Son, Cried The Good Father With Transports, And Tenderly Embracing Him, Thine Undoubtedly Is The Precious Jewel, For Thou Hast The Best Claim To It."