The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-11-25
Live Within Your Means.

we don't Ike stiDg,ness. We don
like "ecoromy" when it comes down t.
starvation. We have no sympathy with
the notion that a poor man should hitct
himself to post and stand still while The
rest of the world moves forward. 1t
no mans duty to deny himself of every
amusement, every luxury, every recrea
ton, every comfort that he may become
rich. 1t is no mans duty to % axe an ice.
berg of himself to shut his eyes and ears
to the suffering of bis fellows---apG to de.
ny bimselfthe enjoyme ut that results from
generous actions-merely that be may
hoard wealth for his heirs to quarrel a.
bout.
But there yet an ecnomy which is eve
mans duty aud which is commendable in
the man who struggles with poyerty-an
economy which is consistent with happi-
ness, and which must be practiced, if the
poor would secure independence.
1t is every mans privilege, and it be-
comes his duty to live within bis means /:
not up to but within them. Wealth does
not make the AN, We admit, and should
judgment of men. But competence should
be secured when it can be, and it almost
always can be, By the practice of econo-
my and self-deDisl to only tolerable ex
tent 1t should be secured, not so much
for others to look upon, or to raise US In
in the estiuatiou OF others, as to secure
the consciousness Of independence, and
the constant satisfaction that is derived
from its requirement and possession.
We would like to impress this single
fact upon the mind of every laboriDg an
who may peruse this short article-that
it is possible for him to rise above power
ty, and that the path to independence,
though beset with tolls and self-sacri6ce,
is much pleasanter to tue traveller than
any one he can enter upon.
The man who feels that be is earning
something more than be spending, will
walk the streets with much lighter
heart, and enter bis home with much
more cheerful countenance than he who
spends as he goes, or falls gradually be-
hind bis necessities in acquiring the means
of meeting them.
Next to the slavery of intemperance
there is DO slavery on earth more CALLING
than that Of poverty aud Indebted ness
The man who is everybody's debtor is cv-
erybody's slave, aud in much worse
condition than he who serves a single
master.
For the sake of the present, then, as
we'll as for the sake of the future, we
would most earnestly urge upon every
workingman to live within his means
Let him lay by something every day-if
but penny, be it a penny-it is better
than nothing; Infinitely better than run
ming in debt, a peny a day or penny a
week. If be can earn dollar let him
try, fairly and faithfully, tie experiment
of living on ninety cents. He will like it.
"PeOple will laugh" 1t them laugh
They will call me stingy." Better be
called stingy than say you do not pay
your debts. They will wonder why do
not have better furniture, live iD a finer
house, and attend concerts and play hou-
ses." Let them wonder for a while, it
don't hurt them, and it certainly won't
hurt you By and by you can have fne
house, and fine furniture Of Jour own, and
they will wonder again, and come billing
and cooiug around you like SO many
pleased fools. Try the experiment. Live
within your means.-Maine Farmer.