Middletown transcript., 1868-03-28

Besides bill for medical attendance, his
family, and probably himself, feel that af-
fection for the dead, and due respect for
propriety, require that they should wear
mourning. The articles deemed necessary
can only be acquired in one way by run
ming in debt for them. The debt is con-
tracted Each succeeding week brings
with it its own outlay, which absorbs all
the earnings. The debt remains unpaid; and
is constant source of encouragement.
Both he and his family feel that they have
entered state of oppressive thraldom,
from which there is apparently no escape.
The curse and burden of debt crimsons
the check and bows tho head as often as
they appear outside of their own home.
This situation is that in which some
persons spend their lives. Their income
is spent before it is earned. They live on
credit. Their food and clothing are never
paid for. They are always behind hand.
They have acquire habit of being in
debt. Through the temptation of the un-
scrupulous trader offering them goods on
credit at enormous profits, they have en-
tered state of perpetual slavery, when
they might be freemen by simply adhering
to the rule to earn their money before they
spend it.
A man should let no temptation induce
him to mortgage bis future industry to
creditors, whenit is already mortgagcd for
the support of his family. The farmer
who runs in debt in expectation Of pay
ing from the proceeds of the next crop,
- o.Er.oJ .n,;,,,t Hin, al +ba oont;,,
gences which can defeat success. His
calculation is based on uninterrupted
strength to labor, or favorable season, or
good prices for his produce. Let any or
all of these suppositions fail, and he is uu-
able to pay, without a sacrifice. There
have been occasions for expense, which
were not anticipated, when he ran in debt.
The debt grows by the accretions of in
terest After while the retailer has a
mortgage on his farm, the interest on
which is as much as he can meet. And
from mortgage to a foreclosure is but a
short stage with some.
In brief, credits for personal wants is an
unmitigated curse to the consumer. Be-
sides robbing Aim of large part of his
income, without any equivalent, it culti-
Yates in him scrvility, untruthfulness and
dishonesty. 1t unnerves his energies, and
crushes him with the apprehension of his
property, if he possess any, being swept
away through mortgage and foreclosure,
and of himself and his family beggared.
This is the situation of thousands through
out the length and breadth of this land,
who have contracted debts for personal
expenses. They are the victims of their
own ignorance, or the dupes of the man
who, by whccdling, has induced them to
contract debts, and thus made them slaves.
Contrast with the debtor, the man who
never permits himself or his family to eat
drink or wear, what they have not paid
for. He need not skulk around corners,
or avert his eyes to avoid the gaze of a
creditor. He can walk with his head
erect, and feel that no man has the power
to deprive him of his home or assume to
him the language and tone of a master.
In short, he only can enjoy, whatever may
be his circumstances, the happiness which
springs from conscious independence.