The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-07-20

y "Ns Auo uiodoitI may UOL prove 4
serious as you imagine, and you may b
able to struggle through and recover your
self without shadow being cast on you
good name. If you suffer present obligs
tions to be dishonered, remember tha. you
reputation must receive stain. Thi
can not be avoided. There are men VIII
have no word but 'd;sonest with whicl
to designate those who fail to pay then
what is due, no matter what causes pro
duce the failure. Think of this, Mr.. Og
lethorpe, and weigh well the consequence
before you take the doubtful step you hav,
proposed to yourself You have family
and for their sake do not permit this dis
grace to come upon them.
Mr.. Oglethorpe was partially stunned
oy this. He had not thought of Disgrace
only misfortune. He sat for some time
like one stupelled.
Don't give up, sir don't give up ?
MIR. Spicer laid his hand on the arm Of
MIR. Oglethorpe end spoke cheerily. 'Nev.
er LET it be said that you permitted an OBJ
legation to remain uncancelled. Pat on a
brave, cheerful face and you will go through.
l can wait until to- morrow for the money.
That will give you time to turn around.
And whenever you want aid or counsel.
remember that Jacob Spicer is your
friend
The creditors counsels prevailed. Mr..
Oglethorpe, instead Of standing up brave-
ly and meeting his trouble face to face
began the hopeless task of borrowing him.
sell out OF debt. He was involved upon
his means OF payment about five thousand
dollars. His business yielded him little
over twenty-five hundred dollars year in
net profit; and as his family expenses
never exceeded fifteen hundred dollars. he
was simply in n condition TO pay up in
full at the end Of five years. To do this.
however, fair arrangement with all his
creditors was necessary, and all would
have TO make concessions in lis favor.
Strict attention to business was also re.
qulsite. Such an arrangenen could have
been made, and all would have come out
right in the end But unwise counsel
prevailed.
On the day following Mr. Spicer's visit
that gentleman received his two hundred
dollars, which Mr.. Oglethorpe borrowed
from friend under promise of repayment
on the day after, Another friend furish,
ed the money to make this loan good, and
third supplied the means of taking up
small note that fell due in the mean time.
By the end of a week or two, Mr.. Ogle-
thorpe was fairly nducted into the mys>
teries and miseries of borrowing. Ills
line OF accommodation in this direction had
from a professional lender, who charged
the moderate interest of half per cent a
day. TO keep this large accumulation
ahead Of him was no easy task, and our
borrower found but little time on his
hapds for the ordinary duties required in
business. Steadily this accumulation of
business went on, until it reached the full
some of his losses, and steadily it increased
by the addition of excessive interests, while
the poor mans income decreased in conse-
quence Of his neglect of business.
Jacob Spicer never loaned Mr.. Ogle-
thorpe single dollar. His advice ha!
been given selishly and heartles1ly. To
get the whole of small claim, he had
been willing to lead an honest, but not
clear-sighted man, into wrong way that
led to certain worldly ruin. Many times
in cases of extremity, has Mr.. Oglethorpe
called upon Spicer, but always the same
cold refusal met his applications The
shrewd INSCRIPTIONS man knew that the
end must come that, sooner or later,
Oglethorpe must be driven under, and he
was not going to have even a trlhe risk in
30 leaky a ship.
Ono day, it was over year from the
time, Mr.. Oglethorps began his up hill
work, the embarrassed man found himself
in more than usual trouble. There were
notes to pay and sums of borrowed money
to return, making an aggregate that ex'
ceeded two thousand dollars. With feel,
ings scarcely moro pleasant than that of 4
criminals on his way to trial, Mr.. Ogle'
thorpe entered his place of business, ant
without even goncing over the morning
PAPER, sat down at his desk and began I,
figure up the days payment. A sigh tha
almost betrayed itself in groan gav'
painful evidence that the result had beer
reached.
Twenty three hundred y he said t,
himself, and his heart sank within him
sWhere so large all amount is TO COM
fiom is beyond my skill to guess. All me
this matter is growing worse and worse
The night gets darker and darker. Ny
feet are more entangled to-day than the.
were six months ago. Instead of findinl
my way out of this labyrinth of embar
rassment l am getting more involved, ant
fear even the clew is lost, All m,
time is spent in money raising, to tn
neglect of business and its consequent de
cline. Heaven help me l fear the cas-
is hopeless
The unhappy man sat in this gloom
state for some time, then aroused himsel
and started forth on his daily round of so
licitation. He had twenty,three hundre
dollars to raise, and must be active if h
expected to get through, 1t is not ou
purpose to follow him step by step. Al
most any reader can imagine the trials, di;
appointment and humiliation attendant o
the work he had taken in hand: At tw
o'clock Mr.. Oglethorp found himself sti
short about Ave hundred dollars. Wher
was the amount to come from a! He ha
exhausted every resource within reacf
; and in order to collect his thoughts ha