The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1885-05-21
VALEOlCTORY.

The following is the valedictory of a merchant
named W. w. Wilkinson, of Greenville, ALBANIA.
1t is rich and racy reading:
Having been actively engaged in business from
1852, and near twenty years in Greenvie having
sold out and about to retire and only look after my
lands and Odpapers, having several hundred differ
ent places plantations and tracts of land in various
counties that must be sold leased, rented or divid-
ed out, and large amount as old, chronic, rusty,
NOISY dngy, disagreeable mortgages, notes and ac-
counts that have got to be settled or disposed of in
some way. They were once said to be mighty good
and would be certain to pay, great many of them in
thirty days. But the older they get the further of
is the pay. The time has come when you can't hide
out and put me off any longer. You must face the
music and stand fire and settle quit the country
and IT, you skip to Texas or Florida, I'll have you
am now in front, and have a live collecting bureau
OF wide-awake experienced collectors, and a mum.
Der OF the best lawyers in the country The edict
has gone FORTH you have got to settle no putting off
and waiting until 81 sell my cotton" Your cotton
is done sold, and the money spent yoa need not
look for any of those wishy two faced sympa
thzing, goblin collectors, you have been used to.
They are the main cause and the reason you hav,
not paid up they acting the traitor and helping you
swindle me- 1t really looks like the example O
warning to them but their dishonesty and greed fol-
gain appears to take such deep and fatal hold or
certain parties that they will risk Flowers Mill anG
the penitentiary, turn tracks and act ten thou
sand times than old Judas Iscariot as soon az
he made sensible that he had acted wrong, h,
repented, gave up the money and hung himself
But they brazen it out and say they had rather be
the defendant and put on as much brass as the ole
Devil himself. The kiver has got to come, and YOU
have got to give account of your stewardship
This is my last appeal. shall force things to the
last extremity. You may look out for riders
mortgages, executions, writs, lawyers courts and
sheritis. They will skin you alive and peel tn,
very hair or wool of your head and the filling on
OF your teeth. Come Immediately, don't wait anC
listen to dishonest and corrupt, hug-around-the
chmney-corner, pney woods, so-caled lawyers
that false and ruinous delusion that "Wikinsor
can't make me pay, we can stock the jury
hedge in the court, get inside of the rink and NEAR
whisky and get them to decide regardless of the Law
or the proof, by slandering Wilkinson, swearing
falsely and raising the hue and cry that he is rici
and we are poor f" Who made you poor and wha
has that to do with justice, truth and honesty
The cause is your big stomachs and little cotton
patches. 1t is your eternal getting and wanting ant
buying and loafng, and too lazy and indolent t,
work and make anything to pay your debts, making
big mortgages and little security, buying all tn,
year, eating and drinking, chewing and squirtin.
and oafing, and when pay day comes, 'old, meal
Wilkinson broke meup" You know that YOU tel
an every time you say So yor
made the mortgages, and you ate II and wore GU
the goods and you Rever paid for them Now settl,
and stop this eternal slandering and whinin,
around and pay up and give satisfaction, and be
man. You shall have every accommodation and ad
yantages that it is in mypower to grant you
a few words to my old, true and tried friends an,
customers that have stood square up to me- lk,
Stonewall Jackson. l never can forget you or for
sake you. will ever grant you all the favors tina
are in my power. | recommend you to Mr. Zollie
who is young and active, and more able to help yo,
than | ever have been.
To my fellow merchants; You have fought m,
long and hard; single handed and alone, the wire
grass boy stood it, and it is your persistent oppos
ton that owe large portion of my success If
nave any. Honest competition is the life of a mar
or trade and it is the man and not the "stand" al
ter all On retiring from the sharp conflicts of the
mercantile life must freely forgive all my fellow
merchants for all they have ever done or said again
me, ana most humbiy ask that they pardon me, if
have, at any time, in the excitement of the moment
UNIV VI '''iu tHVh Wish 10 De at peace
and friends with all my fellow merchants that act
towards me in such a manner that | can consistent
ly do So lnoy commend Zollie to your confidence
and fellowship, not because he is my SON but it is
fact that have never heard aught against him
Hoping that he may he content so to live and act
shat he will ever maintain the love esteem and con
hdence Of all good, honest merchants alse com.
mend Charlie to the law fraternity, hoping that
their advice and counsel may he wise sober honest
and truthful, and ever set him good and whole
some example, and assist him to wind up NV old
scattered and shattered business and get me plum
out OF law. Finally, beSeech all honest, debt
paying people, that believe in future rewards and
puniShments and that want to live under an honest
government and among business people, to advise
all my old no-paying customers to settle and don't
take stock against me, as the concealer is worse
than the thief Hoping that one and al will read
think and act, and come up like true. honest men
and do their whole duty and all will be we'll