The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-02-01
For the Ottawa Free.Trader.
Timber Stealing.
A DIALOGUE

SCENE "a cabin near canal land.
Sam.-Poke up that tire, Jerry woods cheap
hereabouts.
Jerry.-Mr. wiscman, III give your fire jog
It's rather cold tonight
Wi,eman-Thats right, Jerry II il no one's
duty TO suffer, when nature furnishes the means
Of keeping warm
Sa,n-We don't calculate to freeze at our
house, rs long rs wood costs nothing but the haul
ing.
Jcrry-But SAM to DO honest I'm little con
science smltten about this thing. | would rath
81 that rail fence Of ullne was back in the timber
for cant but think it is aeaEag after all.
WI don believe that the timber ON that lot
out yonder, belongs to the state any more than
1t docsto me-"
fool-(Rubbing hiscy open) "lIurrah-I-I-
reckon he's got the biggest share on any how. ("
Jerry-"Wsll, don't know. But Squire Hon.
est told me, he other day tina, the canal lands
had been given to the safe, and were somehow
mortgaged TO pay the canal debt: and so, every
dollars worth Of timber taken from canal land
was rs good rs n dollar taken from the state trea.
sury. And what is that but steaiingl"
Fool-(To himself) That's the way 10 do it
Send the thief to prison what steals the dollars
Giicr government get. EN-, and call him an hon.
est Teller what steals em dtore There's moro
Sam-"Jerry, | never thought much about il
but swow, | don't know as it is exactly rrh,
Howsomevcr. Mr.. Lovemoney and Deacon Silly
take tree now and then, and they are good
church members"
W.-"Yes. People are all helping themselves
The timber is going, and will all be taken. and
why may not you Us well have sharer
Fool-(aslde.) Set an example Of ,heyin to
everybody round and then mako every body.
stealth an excusef for his own A Sise nun in.
q"
Jerry-"But somehow, this business doesn't do
for me. hnd am becoming little careless
about honesty in other things and begin to be "A
fraid that may sometime be tempted TO take
from other people as well us from the state Be
sides, Captain Thoughtful tells me that such
things demornlize society, make property insecure
and tend to destroy all regard for law and hon.
esty.'
Sam. well, to he candid. think pretty
much so, | never was counted over scrupulous
but stealing timber hasn't made mo better man
I'm sure. l always mem to 20 head IN: but nj
ter all, IA II little Father not be caught ut this
business
Why views respecting the right Of prop
erty are such, that it would not trouble Or harm
me to take stick Of canal timber, if happened
TO need it.
tool-(aside) Cant spite rotten eggs, old
hawk
Snm--"Well, Jerry, you and |, confess have
got INTO bad company for those timber st,aers,
reckon, church members and all, are men that
cant 10 trusted behind your back Id never
make one Of them executor OF my will"
Jcny-"Wcll now, If You'll go with me. Sam.
we II quit this Business, keep good conscience
and make an honest living tAsidc) sam. I'm
afraid that all this talk about tho right Of prop.
erty, Is only cloak to hide rascality'
Why opinions on the subject Of the natu
raj rights man, can neyergve up, but 10 man
can find fault with my practice
Fool Ito hlmsclfj 'Prdcficci Jingo' lIou.
sens, barns, fences always wood plenty and
not dozen o trees cut on his own land Golly,
whsta lie That beats M,
Sam--"Well Jerry, agreed ran work a
little harder, and burn my own wood, and buy
my own timber and so hold up my head among
honest men, for | swow hate to feel so like
dog that's been stealing sheep"
Jrry-Then here's At you, sam, for hard work
quiet mind, aud al honest livelihood
Er.ua