The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1843-01-05
CAUSE OF, AND CURE FOR, HARD
TIMES.
BY AN OLD FARMER OF ITS.

profess myself 10 be an honest farmer, for
| can cay that no man could charge me with
q dishonest action. see with great grief hat
all the country is inflicted as well as myself
Every one is complaining, and telling his grie.
vances, but fad they do not tell how ,hIer
troubles came on them. | know it is common
for people TO throw The blame of their own mis-
deeds on others, or at least 10 excuse ,hemsel-
YES of tho charge. am in great tribuaIon;
but to keep up The character Of an honest man
cannot in coasclence say that any one has
brought my troubles on me but myself Hard
times-no money! says every one. A short
story of myself vIll show how ite came to be
hard times wilhlme, and no money, al the age
of 65, who have lived we'll these forty years.
My parents were poor land they put me at
twelve years OF age to farmer with whom |
lived ill ] was twenty one. My master fitted
me out with two stout suits Of homespun, and
four pair ofshoes. At twenty-five! married
me wife, very good young woman she was.
We took farm Of 40acres on rent. By in-
dustry we gained fast ] paid my rent puno.
tuaIy and laid by money 10 ten years. was
able 10 buy myself farm of GU acres, on
which became my own tenant. then, in a
manner grew rich, and soon added another six
teen acres with which was contenled. My
estate increased beyond all account. bought
several acres of oulland for my children which
amounted 10 seven when was forty FIVE years
Of age.
Abou, this time married my eldest daugh-
Ter to a clever young man, to whom gave
one hundred acres of land. This daughter
had been working dutiiul girl, and therefore
fitted her out we'll, and TO her mind exactly;
for told her to take ofthc best Of my wool
and fax, and to spin herself gowns, coats,
stockings, &c. nay, j suffered her 10 buy some
cotton 10 make into sheels-l was determined
to do we'll by her.
Al this time my farm gave me and my Who'll
family support on the produce Of it, and left
me, one hundred and fifty dollars, which was
for salt, nails, &c. Nothing 10 wear, eat or
drink, was purchased any where as my farm
provided all. With this saving, ! Put'my mon
ey TO interest, bought cattle, fastened them,
and made great profit.
In two years afier, my second daughter was
courted. My wife says, come, you are now
rich; you know Molly had nothing but what
che spun, and no other clothing has ever come
into our house for any of us; she must be fit-
ted out little; che ought TO fare as we'll as
ueighbor Ms Betty Well, wife it shall
be as You think best. have never been stin
gy, but it seems to me what we spin at home
would do. However, wife goes 10 town 10
few days, and returns with a csjico gown, a
caIimanco petticoat, set Ofstone tea cups,
and half dozen pewter spoons, things that
were never seen in my house before. They
cos, but li'tle-I did not feel t-and confess
! was pleased to see them. Sally was as well
! fitted out as any girl in the parish
| In three years more my third daughter ha
spark, and wedding concluded upon. Wife
again comes for the purse; but when she res
| turned hat did see2 A silk gown, silk for
hat, looking glass, China lea gear; &c, and
hundred other things, with The empty purse.
Then followed famlyjealousy and qusres E.
Molly ought 10 be out-itedas we'll as Betsy
Good homespun and cotton ixens were tuIed
as vulgar, and white feathers and riIks md.
take their pace; Sa's husband must speculst,
in stocks, backed by Endorsement; bul be bst
all the fun of specializing, and1 had alrthe nit
cries Of paying. Then graud pa must be th'
treasury department, for all things needluI
Nothing was heard but arrangements for jour.
neys, balls, parties. and such like.
10 about year, Bel's husband made mis-
take, and signed somebody elee'S name 10
check, instead of his own. He was anesteu
and sent 10 jail, and l had to spend half of m,
earning to get him out.
Sa's husband died, leaving legacy Of min
children, whom, with the mother, I've got Il
support. Bets eldest boy was framed for
doctor; look his degree, and sent'his first oil
patients out of the world by improper treat
men', for which he had 10 fly the and, leavin
his dear ncumbrance attaches on mypurse.
! could fill your paper with further parlcu
lars, but that might not be so agreeable I
your readers. will only say, ngfegard I
hard times, let every man exercise the ablit
nature has given, in his proper ahd prescribe
sphere; lot coolentment reign w thin the breas
nor envy reach ito thresbheId Regard nU
thessppareot CLUTTER oftby Deighbor, nor aim q
an equality beyond your comprehension, Iiv
more 10 please yourself, and less 10 please OF
erPecPls; be frugal, industrious, aud just; brin