Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-02-03

I Iazalus went hcggar from the rich mans door,
and was received into Abrahams BOSOM"
"Wlat has made you SO bitter against Gin
ton, .iust;now.' p inquired his friend.
81 am not bitter against him, in particular.
speak of rich'men as a class. They are al self
ish, unteeling and oppressive. Look at the'good
Clinton might do, as steward of Gods bounty,
if he chose lie might make our wilderness
blossom as a rose. Bit settlement day will
come ere long, and a sorry account Of his Stew
ardslip will he have to render
".How do YOU know that the account will not
be approved in heaven?' was asked in a'quiet
voice.
"Approved! how do YOU know?" CALCULATED
Maxwell. mpatichtly ''Any manEcan see that
he is an unfaithtul; hard-heartcd and oppressive
steward"
HHas he oppressed you:"
"Ycs."
"Ah! was not aware of that. Idid'nt know
youhad any claims upon him as an almoner OF
heaven"
my claims are those of common humanity
But you shall know all and judge for yourself.
am poor man-"
"Well-'
"With a wife and four children, whom love
as tenderly as Clinton, Or any other pulse-proud
opprcssor of the poor can possibly love his wife
and children. They are dependent for daily
bread upon my daily labor With the sweat OF
my brow, keep hunger from my door, and cold
from entering therein"
can independent man" said the other.
"Yes, thank God? An independent man; as
independent as any nabob in the land"
DO let the nabobs alone" was answered to
this "If your are independent, why care for
them? Why permit yourself to be frcttcd be
cause Others are blessed by Providence with a
greater abundance of worldly goods' There is
danger, in this thing, of going beyond the ma
bJbs, and arraigning the wisdom of Him who set
teth up whom he will, and whose bounty feeds
even the young ravens. So go>on with your
story What is the crime that Mr.. Clinton has
committed against you and humanity"
81 am poor man, as | said"
~ know you are; hard working, industri-
ous, but poorman."
And as such, entitled to some consideration"
Entitled % fair return for your labor in all
cases."
"Of course | am; and to some'savor in the
distribution of employment, where | present e.
quail capacity with those who are'less neety than
myself"
What do you mean by that :" .--
"a plain story makes all plain. Well: YOU
are aware that Mr.. Clinton is about builaing;a
new dam for his nils?''
Il am"
"And that he has asked for proposals."
dyes"
al tried to get the contract"
"You!" There WIS more surprise in this ejae
ulation than the friend intcndedto convey.
"Ccrtainly! Why 'not:?' was .petucntly re-
marked.
"Of course You had perfect right 10 do so.'
"C,ticourse had; and OF course my bid, tho
the lowest, was thrown out, and the bid OF Jack
son, who manages to monopvize every thing in
the village"
"You say your bid was lower than Jacksons.
How do YOU know this T'thought his bid was
not publicly known"
Il knew it; and in fact, knew what it was be-
fore sent in my bid, and was therefore able to
90 o'below it, The truth is, l managed between
you and ], to find out what every man was 60
llg 10 OlQ, anu tlell StTuCk Il HlitIh oeoM lHCIii
all, to make sure of the job. wanted chance
and was determined to have it, at all hazards"
Il hardly think your mode of procedure just
fair" said the friend; but waving that could
you have made anything by the job at your bid
ding p
"Oh, yes I'd have made something-more,
good deal, than can make by days work.
The fact is, I set my heart on that job as step
ping stone TO contract work and am bitter
ly disappointed at its loss. Much good may it
do both Jackson and Clinton. | shouldn't be
much sorry to see the new dam swept away by
the next freshet."
"Why Maxwell! This'is not the spirit of a
Christian man. Envy, nlalice-thcse are what
the Bible condemns in the plainest terms; and
for these sins, the poor have quite as much to
answer for us the rich-and perhaps more. If
you 90 from church on the Sabbath with no bet
ter thoughts than these, | fear you are quite as
far from the kingdom of heaven as you have
supposed Mr.. Clinton to be-"
"Good day" said Maxwell, turning off ab-
ruItly from his friend and taking path that
led by nearer course than the one in which they
were walking to his home.
a few weeks later, the person with whom
Maxwell thus cenversed had occasion to transact
some business with Mr.. Clinton He had reli-
dered bill for work done, and called to receive
payment.
"You'vc made mistake in your bill, Mr..
Lee" said Clinton.