The Scab
by Jack London, (1876-1916)
After God had finished the
rattlesnake, the toad, and the vampire, he had some awful substance left with
which he made a scab.
A scab is a two-legged animal
with a corkscrew soul, a water brain, a combination backbone of jelly and
glue.
Where others have
hearts, he carries a tumor of rotten
principles.
When a scab
comes down the street, men turn their backs and angels weep in heaven, and the
devil shuts the gates of hell to keep him
out.
No man (or woman)
has a right to scab so long as there is a pool of water to drown his carcass in,
or a rope long enough to hang his body
with.
Judas was a
gentleman compared with a scab. For betraying his master, he had character
enough to hang himself. A scab has
not.
Esau sold his
birthright for a mess of pottage.
Judas sold his Savior
for thirty pieces of silver.
Benedict Arnold sold
his country for a promise of a commision in the british
army.
The scab sells his
birthright, country, his wife, his children and his fellowmen for an unfulfilled
promise from his employer.
Esau was a traitor to
himself; Judas was a traitor to his God; Benedict Arnold was a traitor to his
country.
A scab is a traitor
to his God, his country, his family and his class.
Posted: Sat
- November 1, 2003 at 04:53 PM