Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-05-15

he spent in getting free from debt, when
ila over half ,hyl time would have been
required if his creditors, acting from the
commonest dictates OF humanity, had vol
unfairly released The interest"
81 must confess this is a new view o. the
case to me-" said Mr.. Pelron.
'lt is the humane view Of the case. But.
looking TO interest alone, it is the hest view
for every creditor 10 take. Many a man.
who with an effort might have cancelled in
time the principal of debt unfortunately
standing against him, becomes disheartened
at seeing it daily growing larger thro' the
accumulation OF interest, and gives up in
despair. The desire 20 be free from debt,
spurs many ran into effort. But make
the difficulties in his way, so large as to
appear insurmoun'able, and he will fold his
hands in helpless inactivity. Thousands
Of dollars are lost every year by creditors,
in consequence of their sraspIng after too
much, and breaking down the hope and
energy of their debtors ?"
"Perhaps you are right" said Nj. r.Pe,ron.
II don't suppose, however, that the interest
on fifty dollars would have broken down
Mna!e."
"There is no telling. 1t is the last pound,
you know, that breaks the camel's back.
Five years have passed since his day Of
misfortune. Fifteen dollars interest is,
therefore, due. l have my doubts if he
could have paid you six,y,fve dollars now.
Indeed, am sure he could not. And the
thought Of that as a new debt, Cor which he
had received no benefit whatever, would, il
is more than probable. have produced a
discouraged s'ale Of mind, and made him
resolve not TO pay you anything al ALL"
But that would n, have been honest %
said the merchant.
Perhaps no.. strictly speaking. To be
dishonest, is SET purpose 10 defraud-lo
take from another what belongs to him; or
TO withhold from another, when ability
exists to pay what is justly his due. You
would hardly have placed Moale in either
Of these positions, if. from the pressure Of
the circumstances surrounding him as a
poor man and 10 debt, he had failed TO be as
active, industrious and prudent as he would
otherwise have been. We are all apt TO
require too much Of the poor debtor, and to
have too little sympathy with him. Le,
The hope Of improving your condition
which is the handspring Of all your busin-
ess opera,ions-be taken away land instead,
let there be only The desire 10 pay off old
debts, thro' great labor and seli-denial that
must continue for years, and imagine how
differently you would think and feel, to
what you do now. Nay, more-let the
debt be 10 those who are worth their thou
sands and tens OF thousands, and who are
in the enjoyment of every luxury and
comlor. they could desire, while you 20 on
paying them deb, by over-exertIon and
The denial TO yourself and family Of all
those little luxures and recreations which
all so much need. and then say how deeply
dyed would be that dishonesty which would
cause you, in time Of darker and deeper
encouragement than usual, to throw the
crushing weight from your shoulders, and
resolve TO bear it no longer! You mus,
leave a man some hope in life. if YOU
would keep him active and industrious in
his sphere"
Mr. Peiron said nothing in reply, but he
looked sober. His friend soon after left.
This merchant, as the reader may inler
from his own acknowledgements one OF
those men whose tendency TO regard only
their own interests has become so confirmed
a habit, that they can see nothing beyond
the narrow circle of SELF Upon debtors,
he had never looked with particle OF
sy ympalhy and had, in all cases, exacted
his own as rgidly as if his debtor had no,
been creature Of human wants and feel
inss Wha, had just been said. however,
awakened a new thought in his mind
and, as he reflected upon the subject. he
saw that there was some reason in what
had been said, and felt half ashamed Of his
aIlus,or 10 the interest Of the tailor's fifty
dollar debt.
Not long after, a person came into his
STORE. and from some cause mentioned the
name of Moale.
"Ele's an honest man-that am ready
to saw of him." remarked MIR. Petron.
"Hones,. but very poor" was replied.
"He's doing very well, now, l believe"
said the merchant. -.....
"Ile's managing TO keep soul and body
together, and hardly that"
"He's paying of his old debts"
II know he is, but blame him for inju-
ring his health and wronsing his family, IN
s, ., 400 , iew hundred dollars to men