Litchfield enquirer., 1831-02-24
On TIE ABUSE OF BORROWED ARTICLES,
"AIas, Master! for i, wa. borrowed"

LUIS was the exclamation Of one Of the
sons otthe prophets, who, in the DAYS OF
the famous Elisha, went to fell timber on
the banks Of the river Jordan. The axe
not being well secured on the handle. slim
ped off and fell into the river. Then it
was,lhat IN an exclamation Of grief the hon
est son of the prophet cried, as he 10 oked
wIShtuIly into the stream, ALAS, master !!
for it was borrowed
Here we might expatiate upon the fault
OF keeping bad tools, or not keeping them
IN perfect order We might also suppose
1t was mercy that the axe, when it few
OIL tue handle, had not hit the head of some
OF the other choppers. and split them open n,
instead OF quietly dropping into the water,
as sacred history has been careful to inform
US. But we waive all such minor csnsid-
erations, and come directly to the imports
am one, of the abuse of borrowed articles:
Whether it was, that the sons of the
prophets were better taught or more hon
est than their neighbors; or whe her man
Kind in those days paid more regard TO bor-
rowed articles than is customary at the
present day, we cannot decide. But most
certain il is, that few in this age Of refine
ment would think of making such an excla-
nation of g'ief at the l"Ss, or injury, Of a
borrowed article. Instead of saying, Alas,
for it was borrowed they would
be more apt to say carelessly' Meier mind,
Il w0s only 6Oyrowed.' And should some
honest Elisha set about repairing the loss
or injury, they would say Give yourself
no trouble, Mister, for it was only bor-
rowed article
Thus you will see borrowed books used
with little or no ceremonv-defled with
greasc-spots, and deformed with dogs ears.
You will see them thrown about the house,
and given to the children for play things.
You will hear Mrs. Slipslop say, do give
that young one something to keep il quiet
And when told there ~as nothing to give it
except the new book on the mantle piece,
she will reply. we'll do give it that then
'ian't ours, ats only b0,r0wed.' The brat
is nightly pleased with its new play-thiug
i applies it to its mouth, dreuls and pukes
IN it, tears out the leaves, and finally ends
he sport by throwing it into the fire.
Here mama the baby has thrown the
book in the 6re!' Never mind says
Mrs. Slipslop, it ,cas only borrowed.'
A man bOrrows a wheel-barrow, with |
the promise Of returning it in three hours,
he keeps it three months. Day after day,
he yeRdd"lnjswes STANDING out doors. ex-
81 shelter. Daddy says little boy, with |
native honesty, this ERE barrow-wheel
han't been took home YET, and you prom
sed to send it home in three hours You
says the man, let it be and GO
about your business But says the boy,
it'll get spoilt, standing out here Well,
what if it does 2 says the man, its only
borrowed.' There it stands week after
week and month after month; and finally
an ox-cart is driven over it and il is smash
ed to pieces. There now, daddy says
the boy, : the barfow-wheel has gone to
sn,ash!' Never mind the barrow-wheel,
you dunce,' says the father, 1t cas only
borrowcd.'
The manner in which borrowed horses
are used, is well known. They are over
loaded, hard-driven, and poorly fed. Wen
get all we can out of them say the Dor
rowers if we do spoil them, it's no con-
Germ Of ours--they're only borrowed.' A
fellow witt, II horse and gig drives as If the
Old One was driving him. He shakes the
reins. he cracks the whip, he cherups the
steed forward and the poor animal, strain
ing every nerve, serting itself to the ut
most, comes up to an Inn, covered with
foam, painting for breath and trembling in
every joint with Sver-exertion. The bor-
rover leaps from the gig, calls for some-
thing to drink, perhaps to eat, and to smoke,
and enjoys himself without any regard to
tho wants ofthe poor horse and when adj
dressed by some humane by-standcr, with,
- You unfeeling coxcomb, why don't you
take care ofyour horse as well as yoursel2
Here you have driven the poor creature
almost to death, and now you leave him
shivering in the cold air, and give him MOTH
ing to eat or drink {! The coxconb re-
plies, as he lights new cigar, and pulls
up his dickey, Don't give yourself any
trouble, sar-the creatures 0nIy 6OrrOUed.'
In short wherever we look, We cannot
help noticing The shameful wan, Of care in
borrowed articles both as it regards the
manner in which they are used, and the
dilatoriness with which they are returned.
In fact it is "a common expression in rela-
ton 10 borrowed articles, that it is suffi-
cient to go aflcr them, without being at the
trouble Of carrying them home.' This is
but poor return for the favor you have
received from the lender and the pains he
has taken to accommodate you. The spir-
il of borrowing is, in all conscience, bad en-