Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-03-04

oreaoeu III consequence OF ms neglect oi Dusi
ness.
Jacob Spicer never loaned Mr.. Oglethorp
a single dollar. His advice had been givel
selfishly and hcartlessly. To get the Who'll
ofhls small claim, he had been willing t,
lead an honest hut clear sighted man into
wrong way that led to certain worldly ruin
Many times in cases of extremity, had Mr.
Oglethorpe called upon Spicer, but alway
the same cold refusal met his applications
The shrcwd ,unscrupulous man knew that th,
end must come; that sooner or later Oclc
thorpe must be driven under, and he was no
going to have even trihing risk in so leak,
a ship.
One day, 1t was over year from the time
MIR. oglcthorpe began his uphill work. the
I EN- barasscd man found himself in more tha,
usual trouble. There were notes to pay. and
sums oil borrowed money to return, max Ing
an aggregate that exceeded two thousand
dollars. With feelings scarcely more plea.
SAINT than the criminals on his way to trial
MIR. Ogcthorpe entered his place Of business,
and without glancing over the morning pa
per sat down at hi, desk and began to figure
up the days payments Asight that almost
betrayed itself in groan. gave painful eve
dence that the result had boon reached.
"Twenty-thrae hundred 80 he said to him.
sell, and fi- heart sunk within him.
"W here 50 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. My feet are more cntan-
gled to-day, than they were six months ago.
Instead OF finding way out of this labyrinth
OF embarrassment, am getting more involv-
ed, and fear even the clue is lost. All my
time is spent in money raising, to the ne
plpct ot I'm spuSs opl .ta 4
Heaven help me- | fear the case is past
hope"
The unhappy man sat in this gloomy state
for some time, then aroused himself, and
started forth on his daily rounds of solicit
tatlon. lie had twenty three hundred dol
lars to raise and must be active if he expect
ed to get through. 1t is not our purpose to
follow him step by step. Almost any read
or can imagine the trials, disaprointmcnts
and humiliations attendant on the work he
had taken on hand. At two o'clock, Nj.
Oglethorpe found himself still short about
five hundred dollars. Where was the amount
to come from lie had exhausted every
resource within reach, and in order to col
lect his thoughts had returned to his place
OF business. Weary, wrctched and sick in
body and mind was the poor, harrassed, al
most broken-down borrower. Thought
turned everywhere, but could discover no
new resource
"Perhaps something might be obtained
from Spicer, was at last suggested. But
the suggestion was thrown aside rs soon as
offered. 1t came up again, was revolved for
moment or two, and again dismissed.
1T will never do to give it up" A feel
ing OF desperation caused Mr.. Oglethorpe to
start to his feet, as he said this. "Somc-
thing must be done. | will see Spicer He
can help me and he must.
And without waiting for reconsideration,
he started forth again A rapid walk brought
him, in few minutes, to the store Of Mr..
Spiccr.
event home an hour ago" was the an
swer which met his inquiry.
''Do you expect him to return before three
O'Clock %
"No. lie is unwcll, and said on leaving,
that he would not be at the store again to-
day
Miserable, Mr.. Oglothorpc turned slowly
away.
at is my last chance" said he to himself,
as he gained the street. This man must
be seen or all is lost
And so he went to the house of Mr.. Spi-
Ger.
''Who want. to sec me?' lie heard this
interrogation made in no amiable tone, as
the servant announced the visitor. To the
servants reply, came this further question
"Did you say was in?"
"Yes sir.
"Confound him What does he come
bothcring me here for? Show him IN -
1t was too late to retreat Feeling like
culprit, poor Oglcthorpe, with forlorn as
pect, entered the room where Spicer await
cd him.
"Well, sir, What's wanted ?" roughly
interrogated the bear in his den.
"l-l-l am short to d-d-day, few hun
dred dollars, stammercd out Oglethorpe
"Well, what's that TO me?' returned
Spicer, with roughness akin % his nature.
'Nothing-onl y-but, you see it's hard
on the three o'clock-and-and-
Oglethorpe choked. and could say no more.
"Well " growled Spicer, ''let three O'Clock
come, and the quicker it comes the better for
you, and all miserable fools like you"
Sir" This outrage penetrated beyond
the borrower, and reached the man. Ogle-
thorpe's cringing manner gave away to an
erect attitude, and his face of depressed
solicitation changed its look to one of indig-
nant feeling. '' Sir, this is mean as well as
cruel,' he said with n sternness of tone that
added anger to the others ill nature, and
made him still more reckless of speech.
1.-The truth may always be spoken, and if
1t hurts, it is because it tells home,'' retort-
cd Spicer, with increased asperity of manner
'You are miserable fool, and have been
playing the fool over year, as all other
men do who start upon that worst of all
fools erronds, borrowing themselves out of
debt; man may work himself out of debt,
but he might as well try to empty the ocean
with an oyster shell, as to borrow himself
out OF debt. There, sir, you have my senti-
ments; and hope they will do YOU good
Without word of reply, Mr.. Oglethorpe
turned away and left the house. The truth
which came from the lips of Spicer was
sharp sword that cut away down into the
heart Of conviction.
''Yes; | am fool - he nuttered between
his teeth, as he strobe off, II was fool 10
take knave's advice in the beginning, and
a greater fool not to have discovered my folly
Three O'Clock may como now. The vain
struggle is over, The long dreaded day is
here. | am ruined man."
just two Thousand dollars wnrs, off was
Mr.. Oglethorpe, than when he began the
task OF trying to borrow himself ont Of debt
Neglect OF business, and excessive interest,
We're the causes that produced this result
But his creditors were not hard upon him
They knew the man to be honest at heart,
and pitied his misfortunes. Full time to
rork himself out of trouble was granted; and
he did work uork himself out, though it
cost him years of active devotion to business
a friend sends us the following bit Gu,
from newspaper Of the last generation.
Roger evidently was universal genius" and
it s time that bis handbill was started apain
on its travel
Conn OF n houdJiU IoycIu d;str,b,,,J -. A.