Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-07-25
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
THE DROP GAME,
BY JOHN JONES, JR.

paper this year. How can you live, man, with
out the news?
The newsp returned Lee. Humph! |
have more news now than is agreeable. In
fact, don't believe in your news mongers, no
how. Every man mind his own business-that
is my MOTTO
yes, but friend Lee, it is of interest to know
what is going on in the world
No special interest to me. What do care
about other peoples concerns? ltwon't make
my COWS give more milk, nor my land grow
more bushels to the acre.
Il am not sure of that
'Aint youP
'No.'
We'll, am, then
There are farmers whose COWS give more
milk than yours, and whose land yields better
increase. From these you might learn some-
thing to your advantage -.
But what has that to do with newspapers Z
"A great deal Intelligent farmers inform
the public of their agricultural experiments /;
and give the new methods by which they OBJ
tain large yields Of produce
Book farming! exclaimed Laban Lee, IN
tone of contempt. Never believed in it; and
never expect to. The good old fashioned way
is good enough for me- Industry and econo-
my--that is my motto, and teach it daily to
my children. Hand work is worth all the
newspapers in the world. as,,, b..e.,.
4 am not sure oftthat,' returned the Post
Master. Hand work is badly without head
work, and will soon find itself in the rear
Pm not in the least anxious said Lee, with
n sef.satis6ed air, as he turned off and went
on his way towards the city, his tubs well filled
with butter, and his wagon loaded with good
ly stock of poultry and fruit. a bird in the
hand is worth two in the bush, kept OIL
talking to himself when there is dollar in
my pocket, know what I've got. But, II
spend it for newspaper, what's there to slio"
for it! | never knew any good to come OF
taking the papers. They only put nonsense
into the young peoples heads, and make them
think themselves wiser than their parents
Dad and they shan't come into my house..
Labau Lee, if the truth must be told, had
sordd love of money. The dollar was always
held so close to the axis Of vision, that little
beyond the round bright coin was ever dscernl-
bic. BY hard work, industry and economy, ne
had gradually gained upon the world, until he
vas the owner of Il snug piece of ground COW
ering about fifty acres, well stocked, and AS
well titled as his good old fashioned way of
farming would permit.
The over careful in saving. when love OF
money subducs almost every other sentiment
are not generally over honest in getting. The
every y-one. himself principle OF action gen
orally leads to disregard Of others interests,
a trespass upon others rights, and departure
from truth in dealing. Into these defects Laban
Lee naturally fell, as many a citizen, who had
bought tough chickens, bad butter, aud spoiled
turkeys, from the "lair and honest couutryman,"
could testify. Lee knew how much was gain
an i these transactions; but never had any
;de, Of hoy much he lost. Far oltener than
any ofhis customers guessed, his butter, or at
least CAREFUL, arranged portion contained N
his tubs, lacked scvel.::l onnces OF the true
weight; and more than once nd he come near
losing goodly number thereof, at the ha'aS
of the Clerk of the Market. Such man was
Laban Lee.
AS the countryman wended his way towards
the city, his thoughts were busy in summing up
the probable amount he would receive Tor the
contents of his market wagon; yet this occu.
pied state of mind did not keep his eyes from
resting with intelligent discrimination upon the
road he travelled. Money, and articles of val
ue, had been found by others, and why might
he not be SO fortunate9 Such things were ire
quently lost by the careles. The idea of resti-
tuition never occurred to him; this was kept
obscured by the pleasurable anticipation OF
gain, as the finder Of lost property. Once, and
only once, had Laban Lee been fortunale.--
On certain occasion as he walked along the
road, he espied, short distance in advance, a
bright object partially concealed in the sand.
Eagerly he sprung forward, snatched it from
the ground, and was rewarded by obtaining
half dollar Small as the sum was, to gain
it thus, awoke in his mind the most pleasing
sensations. From that time, whether in town
or country, few square rods OF earth or pave
ment over which he passed, escaped his watch
ful eyes.
On the present occasion, notwithstanding
Lee examined the road by which he travelled
to the city with his usual care, no treasure was
found. Better fortune, however, attended him
on the day following. He had sold out his
butter, poultry and fruit, and over thirty dol.
lars, received in exchange therefor, were in his
pocket. Prices had ranged pretty high, and
the farmer felt satisfied with his sales. Just as
he was preparing to leave, the sudden excla
nation of man by his side startled him, and
turning quickly, he saw gentlemanly looking
stranger, with we'll filed pocket book in his
hand.
Somebody's dropped this said the stranger