Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-12
GNortester QaiIp Spp.
CFrom the Home Magazine.l
THE MAN WHO TRIED TO BORROW HIM
SELF OUT OF DEBT.

undertake Its accomplishment, whether it be
the discovery of perpetual motion, or the
equally romantic attempt to get out Of debt by
borrowing.
Of all the work in the world, to live by bor-
rowing, is perhaps the hardest and of ali 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 pro-
fession He had started in life with a small
patrimony, and worked along independently,
until his tftieth year, when losses in trade de-
prlved him of the means of paying certain OBJ
legations, and he found himself suddenly in
volved in trouble
''Mr Oglethorpe," said man who came in
to his office one morning about this time, Il
want you to settle that account
at is impossible to do so now, Mr. Spicer
Wholly impossible. You have heard of NV
trouble q MIR. Oglethorpe exhibited both dis
tress and agitation.
No; / have trouble enough of nv own
without looking after that of other people
was rather grudly answered He had heard
of the trouble, however and had called
among the first, to secure his debt. if pos
sible
81 have met heavy LOSSES" said Mr.. Ogle
thorpe. Losses that cover more than | am
worth. AT a time when | expected to be easy
and comfortable, ] find myself suddenly thrown
to the wall"
'What do you propose doing 2" asked Mr.
Spicer, abruptly.
"Doing justly" was answered, with some
dignity of manner.
"No doubt about that" said the creditor, soft
ening considerably. But what are the steps
you propose taking 2"
"My trouble is SO recent" replied Ogle-
thorpe, chat | remain undecided as to the
course of action, But, of one thing you NAV
be certain, all viii be treated alike
"Ihen you mean to stop payment 2"
IF have lost the means of payment how
am to pay my obligations %
You are evidently putting the worst face
upon the affair, MIR. Ogethorpe." The WISH
tors manner underwent further change
Let me suggest to you a different course of
action"
"Say on" Mr.. Oglethorpe cast his ewes
to the floor, and bent his head in silent atten-
ton.
Don't think Of giving up in this ~
The tone of Mr.. Spicer was insinuating
But how am | to go forward z" was the
debtors prompt interrogation, For instance,
lowe you two hundred dollars, and you want
the money 2"
81 do
every well! And what next?"
Borrow"
Borrow 2"
"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 struggle
through and recover yourself without shadow
being cast ON your good name. If you suffer
present obligations to be dishonored, remember
that your reputation must receive stain
This cannot be avoided. There are men who
have no word but dishonest with which to
designate those who fail to pay them what is
due, no matter what causes produce the fail
ure Think of this, Mr.. Oglethorpe, and
weigh well the consequences, before YOU take
the doubtful step you have proposed to your
self You have a family, and for their sakes,
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
stupefed
Don't give up, sir Don't give up" Mr..
Spcer laid his hand upon the arm of Mr..
Oglethorpe, and spoke cheeriy. "Never let
it be said that you permitted an obligation to
remain uncancelled Put on a brave cheerful
face and you will go through. ! can wait un-
til 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..
Oglethorpe, instead of standing up bravely
and meeting his trouble face to face began the
hopeless task ofbouowing himself out of debt.
He was involved beyond his means of paw
ment, about five thousand dollars. His bust
ness yielded him little over twenty hundred
dollars year, in net profits; and his family
expenses never exceeded fifteen hundred dol
lars, he was simply in condition to pay up in
full at the end of five years. To do this, how
ever, fair arrangement with all his creditors
was necessary, and all would have to make
concessions in his favor. Strict attention to
business was also requisite. Such an arrange
ment could have been made, and all would
have come out right in the end. But unwise
counsel prevailed.
On the day following Mr.. Spicers visit. that
gentleman received his two hundred dollars
which MIR. Oglethorpe borrowed from a friend
under promise of repayment the day after
Another friend furnished the money, to make
this loan good, and third supplied the means
of taking up a small note that fell due in the
meantime. BY the end Of the week or two
Mr.. Oglethorpe was fairly indicted in the mys
terry and miseries of borrowing. His time of
accommodation in this direction, had already
reached the sum Of two thousand dollars a
part of which had been received from pro-
fessional lender who received the modest inte-
rest of half cent per day. To keep this ac-
emulation ahead Of him was no easy task
and our borrower found but little time on his
hands for the ordinary duties in business
Steadily this accumulation went on, until it
reached the full sum of his losses, and steadily
it increased by the addition of excessive inte-
rest while the poor mans income decreased in
consequence of his neglect of business
Jacob Spicer never loaned Mr. Oglethorpe
single dollar. His advice had been given sell
fishly and heartessly. To get the whole of
his small claim, he had been willing to lead an
honest but clear-sighted man into a wrong
way that led to certain worldly ruin Many
times in cases of extremity, had Mr.. Ogle-
thorpe called upon Spicer, but always the same
cold refusal met his applications. The shrewd,
INSCRIPTIONS man knew that the end must
come; that, sooner or later, Oglethorpe must
be driven under, and he was not going to have
even tritling risk in so leaky ship.
One day, it was over year from the time
MI Oglethorpe began his uphill work, the
embarrassed man found himself in more than
usual trouble. There were notes to pay, and
sums OF borrowed money to return, making an
aggregate that exceeded two thousand dollars.
WIN feelings scarcely more pleasant than the
cnmmai on his way to trial, Mr. Oglethorpe
entered his place of business, and without
glancing over the morning paper sat down nj
his desk, and began to figure up the DAVIS nav
ments. sigh, that almost BETRAYED iisself in
n groan, gave painful evidence that the result
had been reached.
"Twenty-three hundred - he said TO him.
self and his heart sunk within him. "Where
so large an amount is TO come from is beyond
my skill to guess All me This matter is
growing worse and worse. The night gets
darker NV foot orn nnrp pntuuplpd to-d,,