Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1842-10-22
CAUSE OF, AND CURE FOR HAIR
TIMES,
By an old Farmer of 1883.

Iprofess myself to be an honest farmer,
for can say that no man could ever charge
me with dishonest action. see with great
grief, that all the country is afflicted, as well
as myself Every one is complaining, and
telling his grievances, but find they do
not tell how their troubles came on them.
| know it is common for people to throw
the blame of their own misdeeds on others,
or at least to excuse themselves Of the
charge. am in great tribulaton but to
keep up the character Of an honest man,
cannot in conscience say that any one
has brought my troubles on me but myself
I" Hard times-no money!" says every one.
A short story of myself will show how it
came to be hard times with me and no mo-
ney at the age of sixty-five, who have lived
well these forty years.
My parents were poor, and they put me
at twelve years of age, to a farmer, with
whom | lived till was twenty-one. My
master fitted me out with two stout suits of
home spun and four pairs of shoes. At
twenty two | married me a wife, very
good young woman she was We took a
farm of forty acres on rent. BY industry
we gained fast. ! paid my rent punctually,
and laid by money. In ten years, was
able to buy myself farm of sixty acres,
on which became my own tenant. then
in a manner grew rich, and soon added
another sixty acres, with which | was con.
tented. My estate increased beyond all &C.
count: | bought several acres of outland for
my children, who amounted to seven when
was forty-fve years of age. About this
time | married my eldest daughter to a
clever lad, to whom ] gave one hundred
acres of land. This daughter had been a
working, dutiful girl, and therefore fitted
her ont well, and to her mind; for | told her
TO take the best of my wool and fax, and to
spin herself gowns, coats, stockings, &C.;
nay suffered her to buy some cotton to
make into sheets, as | was determined 10
do we'll by her.
At this time my farm gave me and my
whole family support on the produce of it,
and left me, one year with another, one hun.
dred and fifty dollars, for | never spent
more than ten dollars year, which was for
salt, nails, &c. Nothing to wear eat or
drink, was purchased any where, as my
farm provided ALL With this saving, put
my money to interest, bought cattle, latted
them, and made great profit.
In two years after, my second daughter
was courted. My wife says. "Come you
are now rich; you know Molly had nothing
but what she spun, and no other clothing
has ever come into our h use for any of us.
Sally must be fitted out little; she ought
to fare as well as neighbor Ms Betty. >
" We'll, wife, it shall be as you think best.
| have never been stingy, but it seems to
me that what we spin at home would dc"
However, wife goes to town in few days,
and returns with calico gown, a caliman-
60 petticoat, set Of stone teacups, half a
dozen pewter teaspoons-things that were
never seen in my house before. They cost
but little i did not feel it--and | confess ]
vas pleased to see them. Sally was as
we'll fitted out as any girl in the parish. i
In three years more, my third daughter had
| spark, and wedding being concluded