Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-07-14
Negligent Habits-Borrowing, &c.


Heedlessness costs US more than we arr
aware of Did we but consider the valut
of the time spent in consequences Of ou
negligence, at a price we should charg'
our neighbor for work, we could readily &C
count for the deficiency which often hap
pens at the end of the year, in bslancin,
cur books. The habit of borrowing tool
or farm implements of a neighbor, is no
only heavy tax upon the time o: the Dor
| rover, but an annoyance in addition to the
loss OF time in the lender. The borrowe el
not only sustains the loss of his own time
but frequently one or more men are idle fol
the want of tools TO commence work, and in
few years the habitual borrower looses
enough in his borrowing visitatons to stock
his farm with tools, beside disgusting hil
neighbor to i'll will. and wishing the Dor.
rover well supplied with implements of his
own.
Borrowing IS excusable in beginners, es-
pecialy in young men who are not wealthy
but for farmers or mechanics to depend upon
their neighbor to furnish them with tools,
does not look like regarding the Christian
precept of doing as we would have others
do to US. In what have stated above | do
not wish TO compromise those who lend for
pay.
Negligence in paying small debts is one
of the worst of non-prson offences; the
debtor iriures his own credit as untrust-
worthy, and his character as an honest ma n
ne Injuries his creditor by withholding his
honest dues. and he stands poor chance to
make profitable speculation, if he wishes
10 borrow money to accomplish il; nobody
has money to let to negligent borrower;
and to cap the climax, be is liable to have
the sherif's fee added occasionally to some
of his small debts. Pay up small debts,
and interest on large ones punctually, and
my word Tor it, your credit will command
respect, and your neighbours spare money
will be at your service whenever you see
an opportunity to make profitable use
of it.
The most cruel negligence is disreg garding
the wants of the poor laborer; reason, com
a II tell US that the laborer sis worthy of his
hire.'' Men and women who have families
of needy children which are dependent upon
II e income of the daily labor done by their
parents, TO supply them with food, clothing
and shelter, stand in need of prompt pay
ment; and whoever declines prompt pay
meni for such services, and will put these
worthy people to the dreaded task of dun
ming the delinquent to the hundredth time
is not worthy 10 claim right TO the Chris
tian name, let his professions be what they
may.
Many persons suffer more for the want o
than they do by drought, cur
culio and the whole tribe of insects. have
observed. in different towns-where | have
lived, the different habits of my neighbors;
some of them, who possessed valuable
farms, in the spring of the year, would want
a few shad or other fish for family use. and
with provident care for the future, would
wend away to the river, where they find
plenty of company and scarcity of fish,
toil'ng all night and "catching
nothing;" but fishing, like gambling, let the
luck be good or bad, tempts him who is sue
cessful to prolong his stay, that he may ado
more to that already gained; if unsuccess-
full, TO hold on with a persislencv which
would do honor to any good cause, in hopes
that luck would be more propitious and fish
more plenty. At length, after sleepless
nights, disappointed hopes, waste of time
and heavy potations to "restore wasted
energies" Jo. Trout & Co. would think it
a about time to look at their farms. After
arriving at home, and The fog had dispersed
from the mental a,mos sphere OF 10. and Co..
and vi,icn restored, they could see their
neighbors finishing their spring work of
manuring and seeding their grounds; then
commenced the hustle and hurry among
fishing farmers; everything was to be done:
blowing, manuring and planting must be
done IN hurry, which is no way to do
thing well; and SO. instead of driving bust.
ness. 5usines took the reins and drove 10.
and Co. fretting through the rest of the
season. When harvest time arrived, my
fishing neighbors complained Of bad seasons,
poor crops, blgh.ed grain and frost-bitten
corn; and a plenty of weeds might be seen
over Their whole premises. This is the way
some folks make both ends meet. and con.
slider farming as really an Improbable busi-
ness!
Without promptness and systematic Or
der among farmers and mechanics, confu-
sion. delays and loss of time take place. to
the detriment of the owners or interested
party, which diminishes the profit of their
iabors, and often prevents success. The
successes of Washington, Jackson and Bo-
nararte, were more owing TO their prompt
ness than to any other circumstance; by
their quick decision and rapid movements
they surprised the enemy, unprepared 10
engage with them. Had General Wash
ington been as much at ease, and tardy, as
some of the British generals were, his neg
ligeuce would have given CORVALLIS an op-
portunity to have escaped his clutches at
Yorktown, to continue his depredations
and prolong the war, and perhaps to end in
the subjugation OF the colonies -S'las
Bro,0n, in the Nep England Fdrmer.--Norh
Wilmington, 1859.
Srs.sz.sa,z-ygF~
6TThe illness of the body usually brings
out latant power and philosophy of the
soul, which health never knows; and God
has mercifully ordained it as the customary
lot of nature; and in proportion as we de-