75 He turned to Bold Fox. "Here," he announced, "are all the leaders of my city, all the subchieftains, the merchants, the soldiers, the priests. Everyone in authority is here, and our shame is great. These things you have said a sensible man would have seen if he had any reason at all. Our neglect of our people is unforgivable, but we have no idea how to repair the damage, how to again find favor in your people's sight. Tell us, what must we do? How do we help our people?"
76 Bold Fox realized that these people were not cruel. That what had happened here, was the results of generations of custom; that The Old Chieftain and his people had a deep love for their servants, and did not knowingly abuse them. But how to help them? He began to think.
77 "First of all," he explained, "something must be done to help those that are homeless, the widows roaming the streets. Shelter must be found for them, and their children. There are also the Healers tell me, many roaming the streets feeble of mind, not really able to take care of themselves. A hospital must be opened for them, where they will be fed and clothed, and given as much freedom as they can be allowed.
78 A man stepped from the crowd and raised his hand. The Old Chieftain nodded. "Wise one," he began, "my uncle just died. Now, he had a great house with many rooms which he gave to me. My family was looking forward to moving there, but before you, and all here, I now give it to the homeless widows of this city, that they may dwell therein, and be fed until such time as they can make other arrangements. I swear by all those present, I will administer this house, and treat these women as my own sisters. And half the inheritance that I have been given, I also pledge to their care."
79 "Then I would say," acknowledged Bold Fox, "that you will be blessed in this endeavor, and The Lords will show favor on you."
80 And a woman stepped forward out of the crowd. "And if there are too many for this shelter," she added, "I will take some in my house. And also, I will lend support."
81 And several voices in the crowd shouted, "And I! And I!"
82 "Then rally to the one that has opened his house," instructed Bold Fox. "Working together, this problem will be solved."
83 One of The Old Chieftain's soldiers stepped from the crowd and was acknowledged. He asked, "What about The North Shore Barracks? It has been abandoned for years, but having been hewed from solid rock, its rooms are still sturdy. Now, with a little cleaning, a new fence, and doors, would this make what he called a hospital?"
84 "It sounds like it could," answered Bold Fox. "Perhaps those that will live there could even help in repair!"
85 "No!" argued the soldier, "Let us soldiers take care of that. We have little to contribute in the way of gold. But we have whole afternoons of idleness, with nothing to do. And we are good with hammers, saws, and pegs. Let us repair the barracks and tend those that will be housed there until other arrangements can be made; on the condition you leave one of your Healers to instruct us. I can wrap a wound, but I know nothing of tending the feeble-minded."
86 "That," agreed Bold Fox, "is a bargain that I'm sure can be arranged!"
87 "It is done!" cried The Old Chieftain.
88 "Two of our problems seem to be solved," said Bold Fox. "Now we must deal with the unemployed in my land, the rich contribute to a fund which The Church uses to employ the poor. The Church is also given gifts of food and clothing which they distribute to the needy. It is a custom of my people that when a man buys a new suit of clothes, or a woman a new dress, he gives the old ones to the poor. In this way, the poor are fed, clothed, and housed. But they do not get these things for nothing! In exchange they do service for the community, tend the sick, clean the streets, help care for the dwellings of their poorer neighbors."
89 Now the people listened to his every word, and when he was done speaking, began to talk amongst themselves. Bold Fox listened. Finally a spokesman emerged from the midst of the merchants. "You have your funds," he announced, "we pledge that, either in the form of gold, or in the form of free dwelling for those of our poorer people. Also, we will give you food and we will empty our closets of all our old clothes. There should be enough to clothe most of the city."
90 "But unless you have an organization," explained Bold Fox, "a means of identifying those in need and distributing the goods, there will only be chaos."
91 The man who had spoken raised his arms into the air. "All right," he cried, "all right! I did not like being a leather seller anyway. I will see that this system is organized. I know many trustworthy people that can handle such an effort. But there is so much, I do not know where to begin. You will have to send some of your people that are knowledgeable with these things to help me."
92 Bold Fox looked to The Old Chieftain. The Chieftain nodded and spoke through his nephew. "You could not get a better man," he explained. "This man is known for his charity to the poor, and he is one of our leading merchants. He is giving up much, taking this task."
93 "It is done!" agreed Bold Fox. "But all of this, all of it will be nothing, will be useless if we do not educate your people about cleanliness. It will do no good to give the people clean clothes if they are put on a filthy body. And new bedsheets do no good on a buggy bed. From what the Healers tell me, every house in the poor district must be scrubbed from top to bottom. The rubbish must be cleaned from the streets, and after every house is clean, the smoke of sulfer must be burned in them to kill the bugs. It will be an enormous task, but if you wish your people
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