Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-02-26

oh pun SdIVs
IL know you are; a hard working, in
dustrious, but poor man."
sand as such, entitled to some consid
eration."
Entitled to fair return for your la,
Dor in all cases."
"Of course am; and to some favor
in the distribution of employment, where
| present equal capacity with those who
are less needy than myself"
"What do you mean by that!'
"A plain story makes all plain. Well
you are aware that Mr.. Clinton is about
building new dam for his mills!'
81 ani." al# a
"And that he asked for proposals."
"Yes."
IL tried to get the contract
"You!' There was more surprise in
this ejaculation than The friend had meant
70 convey.
"Cer,ainly! Why mott" was ietulent-
ly remarked.
'.Of course you had perfect right to
do So"
"Of course had; and of course my
BID, though the lowest, was thrown out,
and the bid Of Jackson, who manages
TO monopolize every thing in the village,
taken. He and Clinton are leagued to-
gether, and the offer for proposals was
only sham"
"That's assuming good deal, friend
Maxwell.
"No il isn't. Its the truth, and moth
ing else but the truth. He's the jackall
and Clinton's the lion."
"You speak without reflection" said
the friend mildly.
"l'nI not bind. see how things are
worked"
s "You say your bid was lower than
Jackson's. How do you know this! /
though, his bid was not publicly
known.
81 knew il; and, in fact, knew whai
it was going to be before sent in my
proposals, and, was, therefore, able to 90
below il. The truth is, managed, be-
tween you and |, to find out just wba,
every man was going TO bid. and then
stuck mark below them all, TO make
sure OF the job. wanted chance, and
was determined 10 have it, at all haz-
ards #aa .f-4
IL hardly think your mode of proce-
dure jus. fair" said the friend; .but wa
wing that, could you have made anything
by the job, at your hidding!''
"Oh, yes, I'd have made something
more, good deal. than can make By
day 8 work. The fact is, set my heart
on that job as the stepping stone to con-
tract work; and am bitterly disappointed d
at lis loss. Much good may it Go both
Jackson and Clinton. shouldn't be
much sorry TO see the new dam swep,
away by The nest freshet.'
"Why, MAXWELL! This is not the
spirit OF a christian man. EEvy, NAL
ice--these are what the Bible condemns
in the plainest terms; and for these suns,
the poor have quite as much TO answer
for as the rich-and perhaps more. Ii
you 60 from church on The Sabbath with
no better thoughts than these, fear you
are quite as far from the kingdom OF
heaven as you have supposed MIR. Clin-
ton To be-
.Good dayv' said Maxwell. turning
of abruptly from his friend. and taking
path that led by nearer course than
the one in which they were walking, tn
his hope.
You've made mistake in your bill.
Mr.. Lee" said Clinton.
"Ah! Are you certain!"
"You can examine for yourself.
make an error of twenty dollars in the
additions"
"'Fhen you only owe me sixty dollars y
said Lee. with disappointment. in his
tones that he could not conceal.
"Rather say that owe you hundred,
for the mistake is in your favor. The
first column in the bill adds up fifty in.
stead of thirty dollars"
"Let me examine it," Lee took the
bill and added up the column three times
before he felt entirely satisfied. Then
he said,---
$50 il does! Well. l should never
have been the wiser if you had only
paid me the eighty dollaes called for by
the footing uf of the bill. You nigh,
have retained your advantage with per.
fecl safety a
Lee said this on the impulse OF the
moment. He instantly saw a change in
Mr.. Clinton's coun,enance, as ii he
were slightly offended.
"Oh, no, no; no. with safety" was
gravely replied.
81 should never have found il out"
"But there is coming day, with eve-
ry man. when the secrets Of his hear,
Will stand revealed. II not now, i,
would then appear that ! had wronged
you out Of twenty dollars
"True. true! But all men dom, think
Of this .
Mo one Is more fully aware Of thai
than | am. Itis for me, however. to
live in the present, so as not TO burden
my future with shame and repentance
Knowingly. Mr.. Lee, l would moi
wrong any maa to the value Of single
dollar may err, andSOo err, like 9th,
er men; for, to err is human"
After the expression Of such senli
ments zee felt curions tn know wha