Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-12-27
IN HARD TINES KEEP OUT OF
DEBT.

Aeep out Oh utsOC anu you are Tlcn, Hot IlcH
in all senses, but in most, richer than many who
have the reputation. Mr.. A., who drove past a
moment ago, is taxed as if he were worth hun
dred thousand, but his liabilities are hundred
and fifty thousand. He will fail in less than a
month and retire upon the profits of the failure,
and be hereaftera broken merchant with money
enough, and a shabby reputation. You owe no
cent and have hardly q cent TO show after buy
ing your next dinner; but nobody looks on you
as the cause Of his ruin, nobody fails because
Of your failure to meet your engagements no
widows turn their rebuking eyes on YOU no
orphans charge you with the authorship Of
their want. With your empty pocket you are
richer than he in his Gun comfortable retire
ment with money enough that does not belong
to him.
Out Of debt every sixpence you get ahead is
your own; you may look on it with an unalloy-
ed sensation Of right TO save or to spend it, to
turn it into any fashion of pleasure or enjoyment
that it is equal to. But in debt, your money is
not your own. Ii belongs to your baker, BUTCH
er, grocer, tailor, or the old uncle who was silly
enough 10 lend 10 you.
1t is not hard for a man who is making iv-
ing-who gets decent wages-to keep out OF
debt, and generally he ought TO do it. If he
does not make living wages it is u different thing.
For borrowing is better than starving, and debt
is less TO be dreaded than no bread And again,
when one has, as capital good trade or profit
able profession, or Il stock on hand that is not
Immediately convertible into cash, he is foolish
not to take a hundred dollars if he can have the
use of it for six dollars n year, and yet be sure
of the principal to repay when it is demanded.
But to go in debt for q luxury, or mere con-
venence, or for any other than an absolute ne
cessity, is always a matter of doubtful proprie-
ty. Some borrow and make fortunes on their
borrowed capital before pay day comes But
for such operations, great brains or an easy con.
science are required, and where one succeeds
ten fail. In these light times, when Wall street
is like ones mouth, after eating persimmons
when rents fall fifty per cent. and the safest
men are shaking, it behcoves all small dealers
TO look sharp TO their accounts.
Let them owe no man, if they are so fortu
nate rs to be thus far out Of debt, and be quite
sure, too, that no man owes them, except his
debt be secured by the most undoubted securi
ty. For in these times, whoever has lent j:
around looking up the borrower with the mos
assiduous perseverance, and it is distressing t.
note how many borrowers are not at home
when such call. Let the ornaments 90 un
bought this season. Let the amusements b.
foresworn. Let the coat-we talk to unpre
tending people-be coarser than last year; and
ladies', let the bonnet be a dollar or two palmer
Put what you meant TO spend for wreath into
the coa-bin, and what you designed for a vel
vet that should surpass Mrs. Smiths, into tn,
-four barrel. BE hard up for weeks together
wear patch on your garment; wear naples
hat eat cheap joints instead of" fine" ones; ge
sirloin instead ofporter-house steaks; rent a sec
ond floor instead of whole house live comfort
ably instead of keeping up appearances, do any
thing that is honest--never mind whether it i
respectable, rather than in such times as thes
to run in debt. N. Y. Times.