The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-02-20
DAVE TUCKER
Discusses Rich Folks, and Poor Folks,
and Their Ways.

Discusses Rich Folks, and Poor Folks,
and Their Ways.
Set down on this log along side of
me, Cousin Bill, and let US talk the
matter over. You look kinder sick
and sorter out of sorts. I almost know
what's the matter with you without
the telling of it. You are i'll trouble
about short crops and caat pay out
YOU say, and that is not the matter [
say, and there it is we agree so ex-
actly. Yes, I know what's making
YOU so sick and cross eyed, and I
know the medicine that will cure you.
You have been living this blessed
year beyond your means, playing the
rich man with a poor mans pocket
book, and there is the rub. You seem
to forget that the niger is free, and
that there is no "high buckra" now;
that it is root hog or die with each
one of us in the great battle of life.
You cant make cotton and corn with
breakfast at 10 o'clock and dinner at
s O'Clock, nor mutton chops from rus
ty bacon, or cake from corn dodger,
even if eaten from a three hundred
dollar silver service set that your
creditors can't touch. No Stree Bob
Dick, it can't be did, it won't wash 10
how Won fix it. I know YOU were
raised that way, and It's hard to
change, but old fellow you will have
to be raised out of that way, or soon
starve, martyr to departed glory,
and I don't reckon you want it to
come to that do you? There is no
sentimental charity that is going to
feed you and family, and thus offer
premium to idleness No Stree. This
is a great big go-a-head world, and
ssevery tub must set on its own bot
tom" Yes, it is true as you say,
s:thatit looks like people that owned
niggers before the war are now the
aaarast sast and those that owned n2na e
the bottom, rail is really and truthful
ly on top" The farmers condition is
to be deplored, the latter commended
for they faced the results Of the war
in the right spirit, went to work, and
by industry and frugality have acquir-
ed a competence which they can hor-
estly enjoy.
And again sweet William, I am
afraid you are putting too much reli-
ance on your "big family name"
Now. just you quit that right of, for
big name amt worth pinch of snuff
against muscle and horse sense. So
you see by experience that a big name
by itself amt worth as much as good
horses pedigree. AS for me I would
rather have a boot blacks bank check
than all the big names in the State.
It is all nonsense, and the war played
it out. There is really more suffer
ing from the lack of the comforts of
life among this class of our people
from this one cause than any other I
can conceive Of They are too proud
to work, ashamed to beg, and appear
too honest to steal; and the poorest
left handed sight I know of is 'spoor
aristocrat." I am not blaming them,
am sorry, truly sorry for their condi-
ton, and wish it were better. I see no
remedy except in enduring the pen
atty imposed on old grand father Adam
when he and grand mother Eve got to
eating them apples in the garden of
Eden. All! old folks. How much
trouble you have caused US in gratify-
ing your appetite.
Then, again, unsophisticated vii
liam my cousin, there may be "black
sheep in every flock" and generally is,
if the records are carefully searched.
Now, for instance my great great
grand father with his two brothers
came over to America from old Ire
land long, long time ago, and they
bore big name too, but for all that,
they may have had to leave the old
country hurriedly and quickly at that
for eating some one else's mutton
that didn't belong to them; and if
such was the case I amt got much OF
a big name to brag on. I know this
much about it, it has never gotten me
a loaf of bread or nights lodging in
all my born days and consequently [
don't take much stock in anything
that pays no dividends.
Another thing, my lovely cousin,
Notwithstanding your short crop last
year, you had to tramp all over the
county the last fall running for the
Legislature You look like a legisla-
ture man! Indeed! Why man ittakes
money to run that business, and that
you amt got nor never had to spare.
You owe your tailor for your Sunday
clothes and your factor has a mort
gage on your farm and where in the
world would you have gotten the
money to run the machine if you had
been elected? It was blessing that
you were beaten and you might have
expected just that, as no man can be
a success in public life when his pri-
vate efforts are first class failures
There seems to be pleasant delusion
among Q GREAT many Of our yOlno