Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1838-04-12

aONLY 3 or 94OO A YEAR"

"Making only three or four hundred dol
lars q year." says my friend" only tnree
or four hundred dollars year, truly, is slow
getting along" Now my friend was exten,
sively engaged in money operations ana
land speculations, and was probably making
ten or perhaps fifty thousand year and
when in answer to his inquiries, informed
him that was making some three or four
hundred dollars year, he was astonished
at the smallness of the amount; with him it
was merely the work of a day or an hour
Not so with me, had purchased farm in
the very suburbs of fine growing city, and
had been Hooking forward to the time when
should finish paying for the same and tho't
then should be happy and contcnted.
Soon after this, paid the last instaiment
due on my farm, and instead of being happy
and contented, put it down as the most un-
easy period of my life. Land speculation
was then in the full tide of successful opera
tion-many of my friends or acqualntances
had within a few months or year, made
their ten, twenty, fifty, and some their humid
red thousands of dollars. Every thing was
locomotiye-and who could be content to la
Dor on the farm, and only gain "three or
four hundred dollars year." There was a
much shorter way to wealth. The merchant
entrusted his business to the clerk-the me-
chanic left the work to the apprenticeship
farmer, too. was in haste to be rich, and left
his business and engaged in land specula-
ton. Some few, to be sure, stayed at home
and attended to their own business; but they
generally were considered as men without
enterprise, and almost destitute of common
sense.
But to return to myself. engaged in
land speculation, and in short time found
myself not only few thousand dollars in
debt, but was successful, property was on
the rise, and soon my purchases were worth
more than double what had paid and the
little farm which few years before had cost
me fourteen or fifteen hundred dollars, was
worth as many thousands. determined to
sell-and was offered fifteen and eighteen
thousand dollars. / consulted my friends,
but one said it was not enough; another said,
do not sacrifice your property, it is worth
$25OO0; third said, hold on to ii, and soon
you will get $4,000. did so, and now be-
gan to think myself a rich man, and every
body about me was rich, a few dollars, or
even a few hundred dollars, were of little
consequence. Thousands and tens of thou
sandS-fne houses-fine horses and carria-
ges-gold watches and gold chains-piano
fortes-sofas, and other fine things were all
the theme.
= %~NS q 6AOut NAOAASO SOtAIO ONOA tAS AoAAWs
Lands failed to advance in price. Bonds and
mortgages and notes failed to be quite as
good as the ready cash. Many failed to
meet their engagements, and not few failed
to be quite as rich as they anticipated. The
paper currency failed, the banks failed, and
1t is even said some ladies failed from getting
married to rich husbands, and some failed Of
getting married at all. In a word, every thing
failed.
But, Mr.. Editor, have said every thing
failed. Not quite so fast. have not failed
to grow good crop ofthe ruta baga turnips.
have not failed of clearing my barn yard in
the spring instead of the fall, thus saving the
whole value the manure. have not fail
ed to fatten my hogs mostly on boiled APP
pies, potatoes, and pumpkins. and from this
item alone have not failed to save more
than the cost Of all the newspapers take,
five in number. In word ! now do not fail
Of making my "three or four hundred dol
lars year," and with industry and perse-
verence. and with the blessings of divine
Providence, ! hope shall not fail in year
or two more. paying the last instalment on
my land speculations.
And now, brother farmers, let me say one
word to you, and this too from experience.
When you are doing a0eA, just leave it for 9TH
ers to do better.