Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-06-11

In late number of the Telegraph find ar
arlicle upon "Hard Times" which is good sc
far as it goes, but its fault is that it does not
go lar enough; he truly portrsys the cause
out only partially the cure. Having passed
through "hard times" more than once in nv
life, feel ike writing out some of my expe.
rience for the benefit ot your younger readers
and hope perhaps it will give a hint TO the
older ones, which may be of use in etfecting d
cure He ping your readers will not think me
egotistical will transcribe few liGes from
the pages OF my life.
was appreutlced to a farmer who, when |
reached my majority, furnished me with two
suits OF homesPun anu two pair of shoes. AT
twenty married me wife. We took a
iarm OF forty acres to rent; by industry we
gained Ease, and the end of ten years found US
able to buy and pay for Sky acres on which
became my ows tenant uu Ter what con.i ID
cred to oe IA good landl Jrd then 10 mahp pgr
grew rich and added another SIX y acres, vita
whlcn was content. My estate increa sed and
oought several acres of outlaying land for
my children, who now amounted to seven
when was forty five years old. About this
time married nay eldest daughter to a clever
lad and give her fifty acres of land This
daughter had been very dutiiul girl, so |
htted her out to her mind, for told her to
take OF the best OF my wool and fax and spin
herself gowns and housekeeping articles nay
even suf red her to buy some cotton to make
into shirts, as | was determined to "do we'll
by her" AT his time my farm gave me and
my whole family support and left me, one year
after another, ABOUT one hundred and fifty dol
lars Tor never spent more .-au ten dollars q
year, which wns for salt and nails.
In two years after my second daughter was
courted; my wife says Come, we are rich
you know, and Molly had nothing but what
she spuni and no other clothing has ever come
| into the house. Sally must be fitted out II
httlt she ought to iare as well as neigh
Smlth's Betty My argument was of little
avail, aud wife goes to town in few days and
returns with calico dress, a eel of teacups
and half a dozen teaspoons,-things that were
never Seen in my house before. They cost but
little, and confess that was pleased to see
them. Sally was as well fitted out as any
girl in the township.
ln three years more my third daughter had
spark, and in due time wedding was con-
cluded on, and wife comes again Tor the purse;
but on her return what do see?--a silk fock
SIX tor hat, a looking glass, china tea gear
and hundred other tihgs followed by an
empty purse. Thea folio sed family jealousies
and qaarreling. Aoliy ought to be fitted out
as well as setsey-sood homespun and cotton
hxings were ruled 40 vulgar, and white teath-
ers aHd silks must take their places. Sally's
husband must speculate in stock, backed OF
course by my endorsement; but he had all the
fun of speculatiug, while had the miseries of
paying.
Eha children came truEdling into the world,
shd grandpa must be the treasury department
Tor all things needtui. Nothing was heard of
out arrangements for journeys, parties and
such like.
In about year Betsey'3 husband made a
mistake and signed somebody elses name to
a ohech insiehd of his own He was arrested
and sent to jail, and ! had to spend a good
portion of my hard earnings to get him out
Saliys husband dled leaving M Il legacy OF
nine children, whom, with their mother,
have to support. B ;tsey's eldest boy took his
degree, aud sent his first six patients out OF
the world oy 'improper Treatment" For this
he had to fy the lehG. leaving membranes
10 drain my purse.
Farther with regard 10 "hard times,n would
say let every man exercise the ability which
nature has given him, in his proper aud pro-
scribtd sphere-le contentment be within the
breast nor envy reach the threshold Regard
not the gilt t'er OF your Eeighbor, nor aim a! an
equality beyond your comprehension. Live
more 10 please yourselves aud less TO please
the people; be frugal sLd just; bring your
ideas down To a proper level and let them not
be disturbed by Il bad example. 10 this way
you will avoid the mishaps which have hap
pened in my family, and rejoice in Old age
over life well applet.
Iu conclusion would say, Mr. Editor, if you
do not deem these ideas from sn old subscri
Der obtrusiVe, they may be OF some use to some
of your young people just starting in life and
oblige an old man who is also
"PLaDDisG FARMER"