The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1860-03-20
.sELECTE1D STORY.
TmE SOFT ANSWER.
By T-s. kT7HU5R

2 5l'a.
"rll give him law tolfshcarts content the
scoundrcl!' said MrsSilt ,leton, walking back
ward and forward, in Gate of angry excite
lncnt.
"Dont call harsh mines Mr.. Singleton =
said Lawyer TrucnaH; looking up from the
mass Of papers before llfn, and smiling, in a
quiet benevolent way, hit was peculiar to him.
$ every man should 1!,e known by his true
name Williams is a fconndrel,; and so lie
ought to be called, "respbndeds the CLIENT with
increasing warmth. ~
"Did vou=.ever do y reasonable thing in
Your life, when you wer5 ansry2n asked Mr..
Trueman, whose age ilrA responsibility gave
him the license to speakSlusfrecly to hisyoung
friend, for whomllc was ssiideayorng to arrange
some business difficulty a former partner.
81 can't say that / evS zdillsAlr. Trnen,ar.
But now, have good rsfEonfor being angry {;
and the language in reference to VIII
liams is but the cxprcssiif of asobcr and ration
al conviction" replied Singleton, a little
more calmly.
aDid yon pronounce hin 4 ssoundrcl before
you received &c his reply so yo'r last letter.
}aNo, ,Idid not. But alatSlet confirmed
my previously formed.i,np Of lis cLarac-
ter
: aBut ! cannot find 5il fliat.lcttcr any cvi-
.dcncc proving yonr l,tsc partner to be a dis
honest man.. He ewillc#ef gree. to your pro-
posed mode of settlclnciit, tecapse lie does not
see it TO be the most protefs yaE.Y
! "IIc won't agree to it l,oeagseit is an honest,
and equitable method d; settlement, that is all.
lie wants TO overrcacla aIie, and is determined
to do 50 if he can" resEbnded Mr.. Singleton
still excited. 3; g.
There you are dec se}swfong," said the
lawyer. "You have Botls allowed yourselves to
become angry. and arc 18TH unreasonable, and
4 if Imust speak plainly Esthiak Won the most
unreasonable in the present Case. Two angry
men can never settle shy business properly.
You lave very nnlleesessairriiy increased the
difficulties in the way of a speedy settlement,
by writing Mr.. Williams angry letter. which
he has responded to in a3Iike unhappy temper.
Now, if am to settle: t5iisSbusiness for you, l
must write all letters thai pass to Mr.. Williams
4 in future" 5s
"But how can yon properly express my
views and fcclings?"
eTliat do not wish tl.do, # fohr views and
feelings are to remain gas they are; Tor any
thing ikeEan adjHstmcntt:o t:of the difficulties un-
der such circumstance ls',oald consider hopeless
replied Mr.. Trneman.
E"Well, let me answered hisiletter, and after
that, promise that you hall have your own
way Esz4
"No shall consent t;a no sjich thing. 1t is
tic reply to that letter gfiichis to modify the
negotiation for scttem.S Stin such a way as to
bring success or faure; fpd have no idea Of
allowing yoa, in the pLzzSStlt state of yourlhind
: = y-oe-
feat an amicable arrangement"
Singleton paused for some time, before max
ing reply. lie had BFcn forming in his
mind most cutting and bitter rcioindcr to
the letter just. alluded toS and he was very
dcsirous that Mr.. Williams should have the
bcucft Of knowing that lie thought him "a
tricky and Deliberate scoundrc!," with other
opinions of similar character. He found it,
therefore, impossible to make up his mind to
let the uninipassioncd Mr. Trucman write
/ THIS most llllpOrlaHG e)lSLie
."Inlccd, | must write his letter, Mr.. True
man." he said. "Therc Are soine things that l
want to say to him. that know you won't
write. Yon don't seem to consider the posi-
ton in which lie has placed me, BY that letter,
nor what is obligatory upon me as man OF
honor. | never allow any man to reflect upon
me directly Or indirectly, without prompt
response"
F''Thcrcis, in the Bible said Mr.. Trucmans a
passage that is peculiarly applicable in the
present case. 1t is tbs: "a soft answer
turneth away wrath but grcvious words stir
up anger" L have found this prccept, in u
! life that has numbered more tlar dohhle your
years, to be one that may be safely and honora-
| bIv adopted. in all cascs. You blame Mr.. VIII
lialns for writing yon an angry letter, and are
indignant at certain expression contained there
i in. Now, is it any more right for YOU TO write
an angry letter, with cutting epithct<, than it is
for him =
"But Mr. Trucman-"
81 do assure von my ve,tHg friend" said the
lawyer. interruptins him, that am acting in
this case for vour benefit, and not for my own !;
and, as your legal ac isor, YOU must submit to
my lHuSnnnt, OF canhpI CoiiSeHb 10 80 Oh.
If will promise rot to Use any harsh langu-
age, will you not consent to let me write the
letter. urged the client
"You and J. in the present state of your
mind, could not possibly come at the same
conclusion in reference to What is harsh anil
what is mill," said Mr.. Trucman "thcrcturc
cannot consent that vou Shall write one word
Of TIC proposed reply. Imast write it,
"Wcll suppose, rhcn,.l shall have to sub
hit: ,WLcn will it be ready ~
"Comc this ;S:fternoon, and ] will give you
the draft, which you san copy and sig'.
ain the afternoon. A,r. Singleton came and
received the letter prcp;led by Mr.. trncmai'
If ran thus after tile date,and formal address
81 rcarct that my proposition did not meet
vorr onnroyal. YIc motle of settlement which
suggested was the result Of careful consdc-
ration our mutual ntcrd SIS Ee kind enough
to suggest to. Mr.. Truclf1an, my lawyer, any
plan which Won think will lead 10 an early and
ancablc adjustment of orP business. You may
rely upon my consent to it, II 1t meets Ills al'-
probation"
as it possible. Mr.. Tm@ @man, that you expect
me to sign such erinB Bing letter as that
said Mr.. Singleton, nIwillw it down, and
walking backward and for rard with great irrita-
ton OF: manner.
"Well, what is your objection to it replied
Mr.. Tmcman, mildly, for he was prepared for
lust such an exhibition of feeling.
"Obicction How can YOU ask such qucs-
ton? Am | to 60 on my knees to him, and