Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-04-30
From the Home Magazine.
Ff5m the Home HaRaaine'
The Man who Tried 10 Borrow himself
out of Debt.

There are q great many difficult and
sometimes impossible things, but no matter
how difficult or impossible thing may be,
you will always find people in the world
ready to undertake its accomplishment,
whether 1t be the discovery Of perpetual
motion or the equally romantic attempt to
get out Of debt by borrowing. OF oil the
work in the world, to live by borrowing is
perhaps the hardest, and Of all the work in
the world that is about the meanest.-
Pride, independence, and selfrespect, one
after the other, are sacrificed, until the man
sinks into contempt.
Peter Oglethorpe was not borrower by
profession. He had started in life with q
small patrimory, and worked along inde-
pendently, until his ffteth year, when
losses in trade deprived him Of the means
of paying certain obligations, and he found
himself suddenly involved in trouble.
Mr. 0glethorpe, said man who came
into his Office one morning about this time,
j want you to settle that account
''It is impossible to d, so now, Mr. Spicer
Wholly impossible. You have heard Of my
trouble p Mr. OgIethorpe exhibited both
distress and agitation.
No; / have trouble enough Of my own,
without looking after that of other people,
was rather grufly answered. He had heard
of the trouble, however, and had called
among the first, to secure his debt if possi-
bic.
i have met heavy losses said Mr.. Ogle-
thorpe. Losses that cover more than
am worth. AT time when / expected to
be easy and comfortable, / find myself sud-
denly thrown to the wall
What do you propose doing p asked
Mr.. Spicer abruptly.
Doing justly was answered, with some
dignity of manner.
No one doubts that said the creditor,
softeniug considerably. But what are the
steps yon propose takingH
My trouble is so recent replied 0gle-
thorpe, that / remain undecided as to the
course of action. But, of one thing you
may be certain, all will be treated alike
Then you mean TO stop payment p
If have lost the means of payment
how am 70 pay my obligations p
You are evidently putting the worst
face upon your affairs, Mr.. Oglethorpe."- >
The visitors manner underwent further
change. Let me suggest different course
Of action
Say on Mr. Oglethorpe cast his eyes
to The floor, and bent his head in silent at
tention.
Don't think of giving up in this way
The tone of Mr.. Spicer was nsinuating.
But how am to go forward p was the
debtors prompt interrogation. For in
stance, owe you two hundred dollars, and
you want the money W
i do
Very well ! And what next p
Borrow 7
Borrow p
Yes. You have many friends who will
take pleasure in giving you temporary aid.
This disaster may not prove so serious as
you imagine, and you may be able to strug-
gle through, and recover yourself without
a shadow being cast on your good name.
If you suffer present obligations to be dis
honored, remember that your reputation
must receive stain. This cannot be avoid
ed. There are men who have no word but
dishonest with which to designate those
who fail to pay them what is due, no mat
ter what cause produced the failure. Think
of this, Mr. Oglethorpe and weigh well the
consequences, before you take the doubtful
step you have proposed to yourself. You
have family, and for their sake, do not
permit this disgrace to come upon you and
them
Mr.. Oglethorpe was partially stunned by
this. He had not thought of disgrace
only Of misfortune. He sat for some time
like one Stupefied.
Don't give up, sir Don't give up 7
Mr. Spicer LAID his hand on the arm of Mr.
Ogethorpe, and spoke cheerily. Never
lei it be said that you permitted an obliga-
tion 10 remain uucancelled. Put on brave,
cheerful face, and you will go through. I
can wait until to morrow for my money
That will give you time to turn around
And whenever you want aid or counsel, re-
member that Jacob Spicer is your friend
The creditors cousels prevailed. Mr.
Oglethorpe, Instead of standing up braVely
and meeting his trouble face to face, began
the hopeless task of borrowing himself out
Of debt. He was involved beyond his
means of payment, about five thousand dol
lars His business yielded him little over
twenty hundred dollars year in net
profits and his family expenses never ex-
ceeded fifteen hundred dollars, he was sim
ply in condition to pay up in full at the
end Of FIVE years. To do this, however, q
fair arrangement with all bis creditors was
necessary, and all would have to make con-
cessions in his favor. Strict attention to
business was also requisite. Such an ar
rangement could have been, made, and all
would have come out right in the end But
unwise counsels prevailed.
On the day following Mr.. Spicers visit,
that gentleman received his two hundred
dollars, which Mr.. OgIethorpe borrowed
from friend, under promise Of repayment
the day after. Another friend furnished
the money to make this loan good, and a
third supplied the means Of taking up a
small note that fell due in the meantime.
BY the end of week or two, Mr.. Ogle-
thorpe was fairly iuducted into the mystic
ries and miseries Of borrowing. His time
Of accommodation in this direction, had al
ready reached the sum of two thousand
dollars part of which had been received