The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-07-06
From the Boston RecordenlHf
WHAT LITTLE FOXES DID

| - hVtoO VIC UtsStu WIS III 50 MANY
respects Ike my grandfather's that 1t drew
"Your good neighbor seems to have had
some Ideas like yours grandfather,. said
"Ihe man that built this house had. No
neighbor of mine now, poor man ~ and my
grandfather drew a long breath. Iii
Then, after pause his voice changed.
These foxes these little foxes / hate
them! Nobody fears them, nobody minds
them, yet they ruin everything The
beasts of prey are not half 80 dangerous.
The little foxesi he repeated, with empha-
sis, aud his tone was bitter.
What little foxes, grandfather? ?"
ANY little foxes, all little foxes; little
sins, little weaknesses, little ISLANDERS, little
debts, hate them all. They do such
mischief; they are so treacherous and ru-
inousi'
when they are so little? ?"
Yes, and because they are so litte.''
MY grandfather paused. | waited in 81
lence, and he wenton, #
II never ride by that house without pain
and Indignation. You see what fine place
1t is; good house, a hundred and tiftv
acres OF rich land; and yet it went for a silk
gown. That was little fox"
"a silk gown?"
Eyes, it went for a silk gown. And there
went with it what was worth greatly more
than all ofit--a whole family's happiness
and hope"
What is the story, grandfather ?"
'I'll tell you. When / first came to this
part of the country, young couple of the
name of Brown were settled here in log
house. TheyNwere hard working, self-de-
nyinS people. and everything prospered
with them for many years. They paid for
their farm and kept adding to it, till. as told
you, they had hundred and fifty acres,
Then when | had built me Il new house,
neighbor Brown had to build him one,
somewhat like mine, ms you see, for he did
not like to be behind. l sent my oldest
children to an academy in the next town.
where they could have better opportunities
| for learning than were here. After time
neighbor Brown thought it would be % good
thing to educate his children, and sent his
oldest daughter TO the same academy.
II was new expense to him, but he met
1t cheerfully, and, for time all went well
The young woman made him stare with
her philosophy, the fond father was more
| than repaid for all his sacrifices on her ac-
count. But as she increased in knowledge
so did she in love of dress; and nothing
would do for her but an expensive silk
gown. Her mother put her off. .t-
I'VE can't afford il Susan"
'Why not, mother?"
Because we have no money to pay for
it," .trI
. But father can pay for it in things from
off the farm"
''Nothing can be spared now. Last years
grain is all sold; so is everything else from
last year."
But father might sell something--a COW.
| if nothing else"
No, he needs all the stock he has"
The father entered. - a.1
Il want a silk dress, father. Mary Stiles
has one"
"How will she get it?" interposed the
prudent mother.
| "Ill buy il for her.
| but how will you pay for 2"
| They'll trust me-"
! The wife said no more, and Susan had
the handsomest silk to be found in the next
village and Brown had store bill for the
| first time in his life. He thought nothing
oft, as many Others had the same, aud the
merchant encouraged it. 1t comes great
deal easier TO say "Charge til" than TO
hand over the hard-earned cash. Thay
know this aud take advantage of it. And
so man who would not have spent ten
dollars at the store ifhe had been obliged
to pay "down." has q store bill of perhaps
iiye times that amount 10 meet at the end
of the year.
And suppose it can't be met 2"
"The merchant puts 1t into the shape off
note payable with interest, and starts "a
| fresh alpeunt."
ToohtdW
dress! and Brown had his store bill. and
once begun. 1t soon grew too large, and
how many debts are not SO? /? The command
IS wise, owe no man anything Most
debts ought never 10 have been. No one
should have an indulgence that can not be
paid for at once. Next year Browns store
bill became note with interest, but il did
not trouble him. Next year another note
was given, larger one, including interest.
and an unpaid balance of second store
bill. Heavier interest was now asked, for
money was scarce. Brown kept falling be-
hind for several years; once sliding down
ward, it Is hard 10 recover ones self AT
length saw the surveyors atwork on that
part OF his farm lying next to mine. He
was with them"
''Going TO sell ?' asked him.
"lm going TO give Lyme a mortgage"
"Ah! hOw's thatY"
He's got some of my notes, aud wants
one"
pitied him and with good reason. He
was never the same man again. An incu-
bus lay upon him, destroying his courage
his very life. If he could not pay his store
bill how could he lift a mortgage? His
farm must go, no help for it. The grasp
ing usurer had done his work, had made
his own the handsome farm which another
man had earned by the sweat and toll of n
life, without the sweat or toll of am hour.
by cunning, small advantages fastened IN
alittle store debt How Indignant 1 felt.
now sorroWiul, too. when my good neigh
Dor put his turnitnre into wagons, put I'm
his axe, plow aud hoe, aud took his way 10
an humble home far from us, to begin life's
toll anew, youth all gone, hope almost dead.
courage almost failed, muscles and hearf
weakened. And all this wrong aud ruin
grew from little thing, school girls
gown. Do you wonder I hate the little
loNesF LOOK out for them, childl watch
for them don't let them spoil your vines
while You are safe from them. No our is
safe
We rode ON In silence, aud innsed and
tremhled So many little thines-liEe Is
made up with them--which shall RUM
which shall blessI God of wisdom, direct
me" prayed,
A WRcHEsTER tiIRL or e3.-One day
during the hard winter of "a A Miss a.