The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-10-11
RAYENNA MONDAY, OCTOBER II, 1852.

| A few weeks later, the person with whom
Maxwell thus converted had occasion 10 ttuns-
act some business with Mr. Clinton. He had
rendered him bill for work done, and called
to receive payment.
You've made rnis,rke in your bill, Mr. Lee,'
said Clinton.
! 'Ah, are you certain?'
You can examine for yourself. make an
error Of twenty dollars in addition.'
Then you only owe me sixty dollars said
| Lee, with disappointment in his tone he could
not conceal.
'Rather say that owe you hundred, for
the mistake is in your favor. The first column
in the hill adds, up fifty instead of iii tg doi-
| lafs.'
| LET me examine - Lee t1ok the Lii and
added up he column three times before he fell
entirely satisfied. Then he said:
| 50 ii doesI Well, should never have been
the wiser if you had only paid me the Gig ty
| dollars called for by the footing up of the bill
You might have retained the advantage with
perfect safety
|
He instantly saw change in Mr.Ciinlons S coun-
tenance; as if he were slightly offended.
sOh, no-Io; with safety was graYely repli-
cd.
| i should never have found il OUT
But there il n coming day, with every man,
when the secrets of his heart will stand reveal
ed. II moi now, it would tbeE appear that |
| had wronged you out oi twenty dollars
NO one is more fully aware of that than !
/ am
i; is for me, however, to live in the presen',
so as not to burden my future With shume an re-
pentance. Knowingly, Mr.. Lee, would not
wrong any man 10 The value Of single dollar.
| may err, and do err, like other men, for 10 cir
is human i
After the expression Of such sentiments, Lee
felt curious to know what Mr.. Clinton thought
of, and how he felt toward Maxwell. So he sai !,
after referring TO the new milldam in the process
of erection
You didn't take The lowest bid for its con-
struction.'
i took the lowest competent bid.'
Then you do not .hink Maxwell competent
to do the work?'
Il do not think him man TO be trusted. anc
therefore would not hive given him the contrec
Tor such piece of work ai any price. Youars
aware thai the giving away Of that dam woult
almost inevitably involve serious loss OF lift
and property among the poor people below th'
stream l must regard their safety before a9y
pecuniary advantage 10 myself-and have Civ
en- Mr.. Jackson, who hos The contract, positive
!, instructions to exceed his estimates if necessary
in order TO put the question beyond doubt.
know him 10 be man whom l can trust. Blu
IL have no confidence in MAXWELL"
"A good reason why you decline giving hin
the job.'
4 think so.'
Maxwell was greatly disappoinIed.'
Il know, and has spoken very hard agains
me. But that avails nothing. My principle o
action is 10 do right, and let others think All
say what they please. No man is my jldge
Maxwell is not, prooably, aware that know
him thoroughly, and that have thrown as muc
work in his way as could safely do. He
rot, Of course, aware .hat one of my sohs owe,
say
Pm bound to have the contract whether Q
h no. l have learned the lowest bid, and nav
). put in q bid still lower
n How did you learn this?' was asked of hin
! NO matter,' he answered, Il have learned II
: You can't go lower and build the dam safely
was said.
;. To which he replied-.i can build the dar
und make good profit. As 10 the safety, L
# leave that in the hands OF Providence. He wi
e take care Ct the poor people below Mr.. Lee
i felt an inward shudder when this was II
4 peated TO me. | could not have believed Ii
man SO void of common honesty and commo
r humanity. Was not right to withhold ffo
him such q contrac,?'
: You would have been no better than he if &c
70 mad given it to him was answered. And ye
this same man inYeighs against The rich, ar
thinks their chance of heaven poor one.'
~ Simply because they rich!'
- 'Or, it might with more truth be said, becuu
= they will not yield TO his covetous. and enyio
spirit. He is not cottent with the equivale
. society renders buck TO him for the benefit
:, cenfers bu; wants to share what Of right belon
10 others
-, That spirit have often seen him manife
- Well, if riches are bar 10 mans entrnn
y into heaven, how much more so is disconter
envy, malice, hatred and selfish disregard {
the rights and well-being of others, The ri
=" have their temptations and so haye the poor,a
neither will enter heaven unless they overcor
T temptation, and receive purified love of the
y neighbor. This is at eas, my doctrine.'
- OF the two, would rather take Clinton
bo chance Of heaven,' said Lee TO himself US
went musing away, even if he is q rich MAJ
- T,adu'S Wreath