gentleman; it depends on chance, even as all trading does. The Bishop of London has been unable to point out wherein it is immoral."
"Then," said Abner, "the Bishop does little credit to his intelligence."
"It has been discussed in the coffee-houses of New Orleans," replied Mr. Byrd, "and no worthy objection found."
"I think I can give you one," replied my uncle.
"And what is your objection, Abner?" asked the man.
"It has this objection, if no other," replied my uncle, "it encourages a hope of reward without labor, and it is this hope, Byrd, that fills the jail house with weak men, and sets strong ones to dangerous ventures."
He looked down at the man before him, and again his iron jaw moved.
"Byrd," he said, "under the wisdom of God, labor alone can save the world. It is everywhere before all benefits that we would enjoy. Every man must till the earth before he can eat of its fruits. He must fell the forest and let in the sun before his grain will ripen. He must spin and weave. And in his trading he must labor to carry his surplus stuff to foreign people, and to bring back what he needs from their abundance. Labor is the great condition of reward. And your gentleman's vice, Byrd, would annul it and overturn the world."
But the man was not listening to Abner's words.
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