The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-07-01
A PREACHERS COMPLAINT.


Mr.. Editor:-The merchants o;
Manning seem to be somewhat mel
oacholy this time a year, when they
/ see a man walk in their store, they
DO not seem to meet and shake his
hand with a grasp, like they will be-
Gin to do month or two from now.
They are not very quick and polite to
say walk in. They don't seem to be
very anxious to know "what will you
have?" Beginning from September,
every customer that has no lien with
them, will receive a Learty and well
come "walk in and hand-shake by
the merchants.
I say, they are not anxious to say
walk in, what can I do for vou?'
fearing they may be asked a favor
to help through the struggle of max
ing crop. 1t is enough for the poor
farmers to pay an enormous price, and
it is worse when they have to beg
and pay too; yet I do ask the custo-
mers to pay their honest debts, and
owe no man, and they can always
demand recognition. I again say to
the farmers and planters, principally,
last year might have been I; year OF
plenty including this year; next year
or year or two from now, may be
years of famine.
Thirdly. The farmers better try
and economize expenses, live not
above their means and ability, keep
their corn and peas in their barns for
their family, and raise stock if they
have no other use for it than to sell
it for the insignificant price of 40 and
and 80 cents per bushel, and have to
by it back from the merchant at so
and Sl.00 per hushel. saw man
walk in certain merchants store
wanting two bushels of peas and
three Of corn, not asking the price,
the clerk askedSthe boss-man what it
was worth. He said, you let him
have it, III fix the price. Now this
obligated ignorant laan will not know
what Will be his amount of debt next
fa.l when he comes IN 10 make a
settlement. This is why many a
farmer can never pay out, because
they don't know what they owe. And
this is another reason why the church
doesn't receive its support, and The
newspaper man can not get his
pay for printing his papers. Woe
unto the merchants with their light
measure, and light balances. [ an a
minister Of the Gospel, and strive to
do according to the command of God.
I do not live beyond my ability ard
strive to owe no man; when [ contract
debt, am not satisfied until it is
paid. I am a stranger in this county,
but not in Sumter. The merchants
Of Manning are not hospitable as
those of Sumter. They do not adver-
tise sufficiently.
I planted IL farm this year and
have been running it on the cash
system, but got somewhat short ot
means at this period. Having been
afflicted the first part of the year, my
doctors bill for medicine had taken
what 1 intended to make my crop
with. I did not want to go in any
debt, but seeing I could not we'll gel
along without it, went to Manning
and tlied two of the largest business
merchants for aid, but they refused
on these grounds, that so many min
listers lad dece;Ted them until they
had lost al confidence in them. Thi:
startled me, knowing that was no
one of that kind. l hesitateda while
and said, never in my life owed s
man and failed to pay him, yet I vii
not beg man and pay him too.
My advice to my ministerial col
lcgues is to pay your honest debt!
and owe no man. BY so doing, i
will not be said that ministers ar'
are hard debt payers. We are th'
light OF the world, and may we lie
our light so shine before men tina
they may see our good works, AM
then we can glorify our Father which