Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-06-08
cause OF, and Cure TOr Hard
snskgnNs.

profess myself TO be an honest farmer
for cnn saw that mo man could ever
charge me with dishonest action. i see
with great grief, that all the country IS
afflicted as well as myself. Every one is
complaining aud telling his grievances,
but | find ttey do not tell how their
troubles came on them. 1 known Is
common for people 10 throw the Diane oi
their own misdeeds upon others, or at least
to excuse themselves OF the charge am
in great tribulation; but to keep ap the
above character Of an honest man, can
not in conscience say, that any one has
brought my troubles on me but myself
Hard times, no money" says every
man. A short story Of myself viii show
how il became "iIard times andno money"
with me at the age ofsixty-fve, who have
| lived well these forty years.
| NV parents were poor, and they put me
at twelve years Of age, TO n farmer, with
whom lived until was twenly-one. MY
master fitted me out with two stout suits,
of homespun, four pair of stockings, four
shirts, aud two pair ofshoes. AT twenty.
! two. | married me a wife, and good
working woman she was. We tooka farm
of fprty acres on rent. BY industry we
gniued ahead fast. In ten years was
Eable TO buy mo farm of sixty acros on
which became my orn tenant. 1 then
| in manner grew rich. added another
s;xtv acres with which was content. -
bought several tracts of out land for my
1 children. who amounted to seven when
was f,rty-fiyc wears old. About this time
| married my eldest daughter to clever
lad. 10 whom gave one hundred acres
of nv out land. This daughter had been
a dutiful working girl. Therefore fitted
her out we'll and to her mind; for l told
her to take Of the best of my wool ana
flax, and to spin herself gowns, and coats,
: and stockings and shifts, nay; l suffered
her TO buy some cotton, and make Il INTO
sheets, as l was determined to do well by
her.
At this time my farm gave me and my
whole family good living on the produce
of il, and left me one year with another
surplus of one hundred and fifty silver
dollars; for never spent more than ten
dollars a year, which was for salt, nails
and the like. Nothing to wear. eat oi
drink, was purchased, as my farm pro-
Iduced all. With ,his saving put money
to interest, bought cattle, futted and sold
l them, aud made great profit.
In two years after, my second daughter
was courted. Ny wife says. "come yor
are rich; you know Molly had nothing bu
G what she spun and 10 other kind o
a clothing has ever came into our house To-
4 an, of us-Sa,ah must he fitted out lit
> tie. She ought to fare as well as ne'ghbo
4 Norris Betty. must have some money
and 20 TO town. well, wife, it shall be n
q iyou think best, have never been stlngy
n but it seems to me that what we spin
h home would do" However, wife goes t
}. E.oun, aud returns with calico gown,
q Icalimanco petticoat, a set of stone tea cups
). half dozen pewter teaspoons and a te
kettle. Tkey cost but little-l did no
r feel it, and confess was pleased to SCI
lf them. Sarah was as we'll fitted of as an
is girl in the parish.
70 In three years more, my third daughte
had n spark--and wedding being con
- cluded upon, wife comes again for th
i purse, but when she returned what did
II see! silkcn gown, silk for cloak, look
i ing glass, China tea geer, and hundred
d other things with the empty purse. Bu
e this is not the worst Of it, Mr.. Printe
n Sometime before the marriage OF this las
daughter, and ever since, this charge in
r. creased in my family. Beside all kinds {
te household furniture, unknown to rs before
c. clothes of every kind is bought--and I'll
wheel goes on for the purpose Of e'
changing our substantial cloth of flax an
wool; for gauze, ribbons. silk. tea, suga
&c. Nv butter, which used to go
u market, and brought money, is now e.
Al. Il1.
.. {. use to take ten minutes only when we we
:" satisfied with milk, or pottage made OF
now takes my whole family an hour. at t.
=, - OF coffee table. My lambs which use
- also to bring cash, are now eaten at hon
or if sent to market, are bro't back
things of no use, so that instead of layir
"% up one hundred and fifty dollars ever
year, find now all my loose money
u u tone, my best debts called in and G
'' pended, and being Strengthened, cam
carry on my farm to 80 good advantage
:" | did formerly, SO that it brings me Ii
near as much; land further. what it cost n
-, to live (though less family than heret
~ fore, and able TO work. is fifty or six
81 :; dollars yearmore than all my farm brin
me in.
!, Now, sir. this has gone ON several yea,
~, ~ and has brought hard times into my famil
=" aud if can't reform it. ruin must follo'
rny land must go, am not alone; thir
in our parish have gone hand in hand wi
rs me; and they all say ''hard times" Nc
=, Mr.. Printer, / don't know how you liz
IA - may be you are more frugal than we a
'0' as all Of us need to be; but am still mi
nd ter of my own house. am determin
-" to alter my way of living to what ii "
ia twenty years ago, when l laid up G
''' hundred aud fifty dollars year. KIN
can do it. for have got all my land y
With good management it will yield me
) a much rs ever. will increase my shes
zen my Aax ground and my orcharding,