The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-09-19
In Debt and out of Debt.

Of what a hidious progeny of i'll, is
debt the father What lies, what
meanness, what invasions of self re-
spect, what cares, what double-deal-
ing How, in due season it will carve
the frank, open face into wrinkles
how, like knife, twill stab the hon
est heart. And then its transforma-
tion ! How it has been known to
change a goodly face into a mask Of
brass how, with the "custom of
debt, has the true man become calIous
trickster A freedom from debt, and
what nourishing sweetness may be
found in cold water what toothsome-
ness in dry crust (; what ambrosial
nourishment in hard egg Be sure
of it, he who dimes out of debt, though
his meals be biscuit and an onion,
dimes in "The Apollo" And then
for raiment what warmth is thread
bare coat, if the tailor's receipt is in
the pocket what tyrian purple in the
faded waiStcoat, the vest not owed for;
how glossy the well worn hat, if it COW
erd not the aching head of debtor
Next the home-sweets, the outdoor
recreation, of the free man. The street
door knocker falls not knelI on his
heart the foot on the staircase,
though he live on the third pair, sends
no spasm through his anatomy at
the rap at his door he can go forth
" come in" and his pulse still beat
BEAUTIFULLY, his heart sinks not down
in his bowels. See him abroad. How
confidently, yet how pleasantly, he
walks the street; how he returns look
for look with any passenger how he
saunters how meeting an acquain-
lance, he stands and gossips
Bnt then, this man knows not debt
that casts drug into the richest wine;
that makes the food of the gods I'M
wholesome, indigestable that sprink-
les the banquets of Locullus with ash
es, and drops SCOT in the soup of an
emperor; debt, like the moth make
valueless furs and velvets, enclosing the
wearer in fostering prison, (the shirt
of Nessus was shirt not paid for )
debt that writes, upon fourscore walls
the hand wiring of the attorny that
puts voice of terror on the knocker;
that makes the heart quake at the
haunted Preside; debt, the invisible
demon that walks abroad with a man !;
now qnickening his steps, now making
him look on all sides like haunted
beast, and now bringing to his face
the ashley hue of death, as the uncon
scious passengerlooks glanceingly upon
him |! Poverty is bitter drought,
yet may, sometimes with advantage
bs gulped down. Though the drinker
make wry faces, there may, after all,
be wholesome goodness in the cup.
But debt, however courteously it may
be offered, is the cup of siren, and the
wine, spiced and delicious though it
be, an eating poison. The man out OF
debt, though witha flaw in his jerken, a
crack 10 his shoe leather, hole in his
hat, is still the son of liberty, free as
the singing lark above him; but the
debtor, though clothed i'll the utmost
bravery, what is he but a/serf upon a
HOLIDAY slave to be claimed at any
instant by his owner. the creditor !
Nv son, if poor, see wine in the run
ming spring let thy mouth water at a
last weeks roll and think thread
bare coat the "only ware !" and ac-
knowledge a whitewashed garnet the
fttest housingplace for a gentleman ;
do this. and fee debt So shall thy
heart be at peace, and the sheriff be
eonfounded.