The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-11-12

Il
a GONE ToUsAND DOLLAR FOR DEM lin
: Eat HAVE 30 NAME" Several years since
| an elderly French gentleman was desired b
relative OF his to review the estimated COS
Of an eXstensive establishment which he wa
about to undertake, with view to his dctec
ton of any omission in the items, as we'll as O
! any error in the probable cost of such items Il
were mentioned.
The old man with spectacles on nose, care
fully scanned over long schedule, and cmtl
SAly noticing the items, weighed their prob
able worth, and checking each one as he pro
ceedcd, at length arrivedat the bottom; wher
after good deal of reflection, he confessed
that he thought his relative had valued his
raw materials, his ornamental painting, up
holstery, mechanics work, &c. &C., at good
round price,
Well do you think of any thing else to
be included ?" was asked of him.
"No, do not. But" he added in the i'm
FASHIONED tone peculiar to his nation, II tell
you what you do; you put down one tousand
dollar,for dem ting Eat have no name"
was well acquainted with the sagacious old
gentleman, and this remark of his will be Of
use to me to the end Of life.
If have been about attempting an enter
prise demanding pecuniary outlay, the reilec-
ton that | should spend one touSand dollar
for dem ting Eat have no name" has often
checked my visionary ardor, and perhaps has
ultimately deferred me from the contemplated
operation.
DO | see merchant, on the anticipation Of
large profits to be made in prospect all nicely
sketched out on paper commence career of
extravaganza? All, say | to myself, the poor
man has never thought of the contingencies; he
has neglected to put down one tousand dollar
for dem ting Eat have no name"
Does man Of moderate means engage in
the erection Of an cdifice, tempted by the IA
vorable contracts he has been able to effect
with the masons and builders? He will find
that thousand namelcss things will require
money, after the contractors have been paid
and are Off, and will discover it to be literal
ly true that it will cost him one tousand dol /!
lar for dem ting Eat have no name"
So he, who to crafty vindictive or petu-
lent temper, is disposed to 90 to law on the
strength of what his attorney informs him
will be the probable cost, wonld do well to
put down good round amount besides for
in the way of extra engrossing,
fling, conlessng Judgment getting copies of
opposite counsel, taking af1idavits, and the
like. Should he do this, and thus carry out
the prudent principle Of " putting down one
Lousand dollartor dem ting Eat have no name,"
he might be induced to iorego the pleas
ures Of law, and keep his money in his peck
ct.
In fact, let us undertake what we will, in
sitting down to count the cost, we are prone
to underratc it. Making no allowance for
costly, but unrcmcmbercd trif1es,
we forget the considcratc Frcnchman's plan
of putting down one tousand dollar for dem
ting Eat have no name and the consequence
is, that We hear almost every man who has
built a house, ship, an aviary, Or even a /
hen.roost, complain that it cost much more
than he supposed it would or else his remark
IS that had he even suspected how great an
outlay was necessary, he would never have
his undertaking
The moral of the whole story is just about
this: 1t will be well for us never to attempt
any enterprise, involving considerable ex-
penditure Of funds, or wear and tear Of con-
science, credit or character, without counting
the cost, we should show our prudence by
putting down " one tousand dollar for dem
ting Eat have no name" A. l. G..