The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-10-31
The Right Spirit.

The motto of every man in these times
should be shear and forbeor" Every one
should endeavor, to the full extent of his
ability, to meet his engagements, and when
he finds it no longer possible to raise money
for the purpose, if he feels confident that he
can pay up with forbearance on the part oil
his creditors, he should go to them and say
so. One lift over ga hard spot" would make
everything right. perhaps, and it is vast deal
better in most cases for creditors to give that
lift than that debtors should fall. We are
led to these remarks by perusing the follow
ing letter placed in our hands by friend
1t was written in reply to request for ex-
tension Of portion of note falling due
Dear Sir:-I am in receipt of yours oil
this date, and note what you say. should
DC glad TO have the note paid for I need all
my means for financial purposes, but you on
ly ask what l have heretofore been obliged to
do myself, and it will afford me pleasure to
accommodate you. If you can, without
much Inconvenience, make the new note less
than s., (for every little helps,) do So but
| shall be prepared to do as you ASK"
Ii is proper to add that the acquaintance
between the parties was very slight-quite
insufficient to warrant either asking q favor OF
the other in ordinary times We do not
know the situation of the debt r in this case
except that he had come to a 'hard spot, y
and did not know how to get over it, but we
will suppose him to have been in that posi-
ton where the best Of US sometimes get
that he had tried all other means, was driven
to This as last resort and had made up his
mind to give up if it failed. How much such
reply must have gratified lin, and what
new courage it must have given him. This
is tie right spirit, and when it predominates
through a community, there will be few
suspensions of solvent men. Not only is it
the right spirit, but it is the most eXpcdent
way for all interested. Suppose the writer Of
the above letter had returned surly mega
tivc-his debtor would have failed, probably,
the notary would have got fee, the sheriff
another, ass gnccs would have made commits
sions, property would have been sacrificed,
the debtor disgraced and thrown out of bust
ness, and some year or two hence the creditor
mi Int have got a dividend of twenty fve
Per cent. perhaps from the wreck. Now, he
has secured part Of his pay, has got live
mans note for the balance, has made his
debtor happy for the time being, has left him
to look after and manage his own assets, and
in few months will doubtless get the bal
anco still due. At all events it is infinitely
better to leave in the debtors hands the
management of his own affairs for, as gen.
eral rule, he can make his assets pay hun
drcd cents to the dollar where assignecs
would never pay fifty. 1t is therefore the
best policy to encourage debtors to stand up,
if they arc solvent ; to lift them over difficult
places when necessary and to do it with
prOmptness, kindness and sympathy. Let
every ons who has the ability to help his
friends Or neighbors in this perilous time do
it cheerInly. A little money or accommo-
dation, rendered with a smile of hearty good
will, does wonders. 1t keeps open the heart
OF him who bestOws the favor, and carries
sunshine to the heart OF him who receives it,
That there is much of this fright spirit
in our community, we are well aware. 1t is
found i'll the bank parlor and the merchants
counting room - shedding light, giving
strength, cheering the weak, sustaining the
hard pressed, and dissipating the gloom which
would else chill our spirits as northeast
fog sometimes chills our bodies. We want to
see more of this sunshine. Let every man
who sees his own way clear look round and
find out how lie can help his friends he will
never repent Of it. Ii he saves one man
from gong 10 tne wall, 1t Will lie pleasant
remembrance all his life. Sometimes little
judicious advice, coupled with small pecuni-
airy aid, will do wonders. If any one doubts
it, let him try one experiment.
Some of our readers may think this queer
time to give such advice, when the storm is
roaring round us, and our heaviest houses
a.e, one after another, yielding to its weight
1t is just the time. If the great concerns
cannot be sustained, it becomes double du-
ty to support the middling interest-those
who have kept within moderate bounds
who have not sought to monopolize all the
business, but have been content with small
things.