Fine Scruple. A

A man of wealth whose great possession
Was won they fancied by oppression, 
Proposed to give to all the people
A meeting house with bell and steeple.
But they with scruples grave or funny, 
Refused to take the “devil’s money”
For pious uses, as if evil
Stuck to the coin and not the Devil.
Alas! If there the scruple lingers,
What cash has not passed dirty fingers?
‘Twould seem as common mortals scheme it,
A virtuous use might well redeem it; 
Or tell me, if you thus conceive it,
When will the taint of evil leave it?
 

Title
Fine Scruple. A
Alternative Title
A man of wealth whose great possession
Creator
George Shepard Burleigh
George Shepard BurleighGeorge Shepard Burleigh
Bibliographic Citation
La.S. 19; George S. Burleigh Papers, 1825-1902. John Hay Library, Brown University. Large Scrapbook 406
note
At the top of “A Fine Scruple” G.S.B. wrote either “Rockland” or “Rutland” followed by the printed date from the newspaper of April 3, 1903. At the bottom of the poem there is the editorial note from the newspaper “The above is quite a propos of our Carnegie gift.”
Date
April 1903
Item sets
Burleigh Resources ALL
George Shepard Burleigh Poems
Media
A Fine ScrupleA Fine Scruple