Page:Labour - The Divine Command, 1890.djvu/78

74 wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me." (Deuteronomy xxviii. 16–20.)

The adjective cursed signifies unhappy. I ask, cries the rich man, to whom do these words apply? to the rich or to the poor? Certainly to the poor laborer, he adds. Do you see now, Bondareff, how many curses God sends upon the poor laborer, upon his goods, and even upon future generations?

On such laws is founded the society of the world.

57. Have I told the truth? he asks, and I have replied, yes.

Can I contradict him? It would be useless. Could my arguments overcome him?

I am content to say to myself, You speak falsely, sir! You have not so much brains as you think, nor am I the fool you imagine me to be. On both points you deceive yourself greatly.

There are many distinguished persons who feel no horror of my poverty; they can judge fairly between us.

58. The rich man says: If a man of your inferior class obtains some education, he will seek an occupation in which he may dispense with manual labor.

Thus if you were all educated, you would labor no more, but would imitate us.

But, I ask, what will we then eat?

We will live as Christ's commandment points out: "Behold the fowls of the air; they sow not, neither do they reap; nor gather into