Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-07-30
miscellaneous
Prom the Home magazine. -
THE MAN WHO TRIED TO BORROW HIM
SELF OUT OF DEBT.

fnPossipie lninB may pc, you VIII Always nhu
people in the world ready to undertake its accom-
plishmcnt, whether it be the discovery Of ~perpetoal
motion or the equally romantic, attempt 70 get out
Of debt by borrowing. N'
OF oil the work 10 the world, to live by borrow
ing, is perhaps the hardest, and Of all work in the
world, that is about the meanest. Pride, indepen-
depce, and selfrespect, one after the other, are
sacrificed, until the man sinks into contempt gt
Peter oglethorpo was not a borrower by profess
sions lie had started in life with a small p%atrimo-
~. and worked along independently, until his fit
ieih year, when Losses in trade deprived him Of the
means Of paying certain obligations, and be found
himself suddenly involved in trouble.
~Mr. Oglcthor pc" said a man who came into
his Office one morning about ihis time, II want
you to settle that account"
at is impossible to do SO now, Mr.. Spicer
Wholly impossible. You have heard Of my trou-
bles" 0glethorpe exhibited both distress and ag-
itation.
mo l have trouble enough Of my own, with
out looking after tina. Of other people, - was rather
grufly answered. He had heard Of the trouble
however, and had called among tho frst, to secure
his debt, II possible.
III have met heavy losses" said Mr., Ogiethorpe.
"Losses that cover more than I am worth. At a
time when l expected to be easy and comfortable,
find myself suddenly thrown to the wall"
"What do you propose doing 7" asked Mr.. Spi
Ger, abruptly. .-t rrF5-r. -r-rrrrryy
t"Doing Justly" was answered, with some digni-
~ Of manner. a-' ar.ss sI .e sflss
"No doubt about that" said the creditor, soften
ing considerably. but what are the steps you
propose taking }"
my trouble is so recent" replied Oglethorpe,
"that I remain undecided as to the. course of &C.
tion. But of one thing you may be certain, all
will be treated nike. ESD .tss sHti sH5ia
"Tben you mean to stop payment"
IF have lost the means of payment, how am
I to pay my obligations :" a- 3's-+
You are evidently putting the worst face upon
the affair, Mr.. oglethorpe." The visitors manner
underwent a further change. LET me suggest to
you a different course of action" % s II 3
"Say on" Mr.. Ogletborpe cast bis eyes to the
noor, and bent his head in silent attention.
aDon't think Of giving up in this way" The
tone of Mr.. Spicer was insinuating.
"But how am l to 60 forward" was the debtors
prompt interrogation. ''For instance, l owe you
two hundred dollars and you want the money!
II do"
Every we'll! And what next .--l
Borrow" .-aI
BORROW ?? .-aer e..ra
:Yes. You have many friends who will take
pleasure in giving you temporary aid. This dis
Aster may not prove so serious as you imagine.
and you may be able to struggle through and re-
cover yourself without a shadow being cast on
your good name. If you suffer present obliga-
tioas to be dishonored, renember that your repu-
sation must receive q stain. This cannot be avoi-
ded. There are men who have no word but "dis-
honeft" With which to designate those who fail to
pay them what is due, no matter oh ct causes pro-
duce the failure. Think of this, Mr.. Oglethorpe,
and weigh we'll the consequences, before you take
the doubtful step you have proposed to yourself.
You have q family, and for their sakes, do not per
NIT this disgrace to come upon you and them"
Mr.. oglethorpe was partially stunned by this.
Hs had not thought Of disgrace-only of misfor-
tune. lie sat for some time like one stupefed.
Don't give up. sir! Don't give up" Mr.. Spi-
Ger laid his band upon the arm of Mr.. oglethorpe,
and spoke cheerily. "Never let it be said that
you permitted an obligation 10 remain uncancel-
led. Put on a brave cheerful face, and you will
20 thr ugh. / can wait until Tomorrow for my
money. That will give you time to turn around.
And whenever you want aid or counsel, remember
that Jacob Spicer is your friend"
The creditors counsels prevailed. Mr.. Orgle-
thorpe, instead of standing up bravely and meet
ing his trouble face to face, began the hopeless
task of borrowing himself out of debt. Ale was
involved beyond his means of payment, about five
thousand dollars. His business yielded him q
little ever twenty hundred dollars a year, in net
.,roEts. and his fopni1u eypnnses pauer Hexcanded
fifteen hundred dollars, be was simply in a condi-
tion to pay up in full at the end of FIVE years. To
do this, however, a fair arrangement with all his
creditors was necessary, and all would have to
make concessions in his favor. Strict attention to
b0&aess was also REQ %uisite. Such an arrangement
could have been made, and all would have come
out right in the end. But unwise counsel pre-
vailed. n fr Lqn fvmA VT
Ion the day following Mr.. Spicer's visit. thai
gentleman received his two hundred dollars which
Mr.. Oglethorpe borrowed from a friend. unde
promise of Repayment the day after. Anothe,
friend furnished the money. TO make this loar
good, and a third supplied the means of takipl
up snall note that fell due in the meantime
By the end Of a week or two. Mr.. Oglethorp'
was fairly indicted in the mystery and miseries o
borrowing. His time OF accommodation in thi
direction. had already reached the sum Of TIVE
thousand dollars. n part of which had been receiv
cd from a professional lender who received tn,
modest interest of half q cent per day. To keel
this accumulation ahead Of him was no easy task
and our borrower found but little time on biz
hands for the ordinary duties of business. Stead
lily this accumulation went on. until it reached
the full sum of his losses. and steadily it increased
by the addition of excessive interest. while the
poor mans 10 some decreased in consequence OIL
his neglect. of business. n 1e1a lee
Jacob spicer never loaned Mr.. Oglethorrs
single dollar. His advice bad been given selfshly
and hsarisssly. To get the whole Of his sinai
eiain, b. bad been willing to lead an honest bu
eear-sighted man into a wrong way that led 4
certain worldly rain, Many times, ia cases Of ex