The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-08-03
Live with vour Means.

We don't like stinginess. We don't like
economy" when it comes down to rags and
starvation. We have no sympathy with
the notion that the poor man should hitch
himself to post while the rest Of the world
moves forward. 1t is no mans duty to de-
ny himself of every amusement, every lux
ury, every comfort that he may become
rich. : 1t is no mans duty to make an ice-
berg Of himself-to shut his eyes and ears
to the suffering Of his fellows--and to de-
ny himself the enjoyment that results from
generous actions, merely that he may hoard
wealth for his heirs to quarrel about.
But there is yet an economy which is ev-
cry mans duty, and which is especially
commendable with the man who struggles
with poverty, an economy which is consist
ent with happiness and which must be prac-
tieed, if the poor man would secure inde-
pendence. hd
It is every mans privilege, and it be-
comes his duty to live within his means; !;
not up to but within them. Wealth does
no make the man, we admit, and should
never be taken into the account in our
judgement of men. But competence should
be secured when it can be; and it almost
always can be, by the practice Of economy
and self-denial to only tolarable extent.
1t should be secured, not so much for 9TH
ers to look upon, or to raise us in the esti-
nation of others, as to secure the conscious
ness of Independence, and the constant sat
isfaction that is derived from its acquire
ment and possession.
We would like 10 impress this single fact
upou the mind of every laboring man who
may peruse his short article--that it is
possible for him to rise above poverty, and
that the path Of independence though be-
set with tolls and selfsacrifce, is much pleas.
anter to the traveller than any one he can
enter upon.
The man that feels he is earning some
thing more than he is spending, will walk
the street with much lighter heart, and
enter his home with much more cheerful
countenance than he who spends as he goes,
or falls gradually behind his necessities Of
acquiring the means of meeting them.
Noxt to the slavery of intemperance
there is no slavery on earth more CALLING
than that of poverty and Indebtedness
Inc man VINO is eVeryUouys deDtor IL eve
rybody's slave, and in much worse con.
dition than he who screws single master
For the sake of the present, then, as well
as for the sake Of the future, we would
most earnestly urge upon every working
man to live within his me ms. lie. him
lay by something every day--if but pen.
ny-it is better than nothing; Intimately
better than running in debt penny every
day or penny a week. If he can earn a
dollar, let him try, fairly and faithfully, the
experiment of living on ninety cents. He
will like it.
"People willlaugh." Let them laugh
"They will call me stingy" Better be call
ed stngy than say you do not pay you,
debts. "They will wonder why l do not
have better furniture, live in fine house
and attend the playhouse Let thsn
wonder for awhile, it won't hurt tfem, and
it certainly won't you. BY and by, you
can have fine house and fine furniture Of
your own, and they will wonder again, and
come billing and cooling around you, like
so many pleased fools. Try the experiment
/ Live within your means. .
Maine Farmer.