Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-05-17

In DEGr AND OUT OF DEBr.--Of what a
hideou progeny of i'll is debt the futher!--
w hat meanness, what nvasions on self-re-
spect, what cares, what double dealinp!-
How in due season, it will carve the frank o.
pen face into wrinkles; how like knife, twill
stab the honest heart. And then its transfor-
nations! How i has been known to cbappo
goodIy laceIinto mask of brass; how, with
the "damned costume" OF debt, has the true
become calous trickster freedom from
debt, and what sweetness may be found in
ct Id water; what toothsomeness in dry crust
what ambrosia, nourishnent in hard epp!-
BE sure Of it, he who dimes out of debt, though
his meal be biscuit and an onion, dimes
in "The Apollo" And then for rainent; what
warmth IN a threadbare coat, if the taiIors
receipt be in your pocket, what Tyiian pur-
pie III the faded waistcoat, the vest not owed
for; how glossy the well worn-hat if it cover
not the aching head Of the debtor! Next the
home-sweets. the outdoor recreation of the
free man. The street door falls not knell
OF ms heart; the foot on the staircase, though
he lives third pair, sends no spasm through
ms anatomy; at the rap at his door he can
crow forth "come in,' and his pulse still beat
heaithIuIiy, his heart sink not in his bowels.
See rim abroad. How confidently, vet how
pleasantly he takes the street; how he re-
turns look for lYok with any passenger; how
he sauntcrs; how, meeting an acuuain ,ance,
he stamps and gossips! But, then, this man
knows 1T debt: debt, that casts drug into
the richest wine; that makes the food of the
goes unwhoesome, indigeetbie; that sprink-
lss the oanqus Cf LuCu les with ashes and
drops SCOT into the soup of an emperor; debt,
that like the moth, makes vaueless furs
and veivc,s, enclosing the wearer in tester.
ing prison, (the shirt of Nessus was shirt
not paid for:) debt that writes upon frescoed
walls the hand writing of the attorney that
puts voice OF terror in the knocker; that
makes the heart quake at the hunted fire-side
debt, the invisible demon that walks abroad
with man, nov qulckening his steps, now
making him look on all sides like a hunted
beast, and now bringing to his face the ashy
hue OF death, as the unconcious passenger
| looks g'ancingly upon him. Poverty is a Bit
ter draush', yet may and sometimes with ad-
vantage, be gulped down. Though the drink
ers make wry faces, there may after all be a
wholesome goodness in the cup. But uebt,
however covertly it be offered, is the cup of
syren, and the wine, spicy ard delicious
though 1t be, as poison. The man out of
debt, though VITA flaw in his jerkin, crack
in his shoelcathef, and lolc in his hat, ia
still the son OF liberty, free as the singing
lark above him; but the debtor, though cloth
ed in the utmost bravery, what is he but
sert out on holiday IA slave to be reclaim.
ed at any instant by his owner, the creditorl
My son, if poor, see wine in the running
spring; let my mouth water at last weeks roll;
think threadbare coat the "ony wear;" and
acknow ledge whte-washed garret the fittest
housing place for gentleman do this, and
flee debt. So shall thy heart be at peace; and
the sheriff be confounded .-DouglasS Jerold,
in "Heads oCMs People,"