If a casualty happens, if a man is hurt by any common char if he has a fit, the first of the Misericordia who perceives the accident rings a little bell, and immediately any of the fraternity who may be within hearing flock to the summons,—it is their business to lend the sufferer al the aid in their power;
Hamlet: Ay, marry, is't: / But to my mind, though I am native here / And to the manner born, it is a custom / More honour'd in the breach than the observance.
... it is also true that the policy of nations, or the bounty of individuals, formerly did much to counteract the effect of this limitation of competition, by offering eleemosynary instruction to a much larger class of persons than could have obtained the same advantages by paying their price.
the fund of a bank, commercial house, manufacturing corporation, etc.