Daily Kennebec journal., 1870-02-16
4 YOUNG NAN DEBT.

A young man running in debt is pain
tul sight. The disposition to do this is
the forerunncr and exponent Of all evil.
Apostolic authority says, 1.-The love of
money IS the root of all evil But when
a young man loyes money SO well as to get
it while knowing he cannot repay, OF be
willing to take it before he has honestly
earned it, there is, in most eases, lying
behind tlIis, some passion so strong rs TO
thus overbear his moral principles, in
clamoring Tor its Indulgence. Pleasure,
especially unlawful pleasure, is % perilous
thing. Lawful, necessary and heaithtul
pleasure, like the pure mountain air, and
the gushing waters ol the mountain spring,
have been made accessible by our Creator
at comparatively little trouble and expense.
Any indulgence may be known as unlaw-
full when it can be reached only by run
ming in debt. The highway of sin is an
expensive road to travel. The fare, the
charges, are all high. And they have to
be paid twice over, not only in currency,
but also in something more precious than
gold, quatried from the depths and springs
of our being. No person ever travelled on
that highway, SO attractive in prospect,
without becoming bankrupt, and pawning
his own peace and life, long before he got
to the end of his Journey.
Whenever Young man, however mod
crate his salary, is seen always cramped
for money, and ready to borrow of his
friends he is surely on the downward grade
of virtue and respectability. Willingness
to run in debt is itself great vice. 1t is
caused by the wish to crafty the unlawful
craving lying behind, perhaps undisclosed
to the eyes OF the world. Experienced
men readily judge what this want of money
indicates; and, however fair YOUR character
may seem in other respects, they will be
satisfied, from this alone, that there is some
hidden faint and unsoundness. However
small your income, always live within your
means. There is tar less unhappiness in
doing without even necessary things, than
there is in the consciousness of being in
debt. Herodotus says, that among the
ancient Persians, . TO tell lie is consid-
cred by them the greatest disgrace; next
to that to be in debt; and this, FOR many
reasons, but especially because they think
that one who runs in debt must, OF neces-
sity, tell les Does your experience, your
conscience, tell you this is true?
Always keep an unspent and unpawned
dime in the bottom of your pocket. Its
touch will always be invigorating; and,
with talismanic power. send through your
soul energy, making yoa carrv counte-
nance flushed with honorable frankness.
This simple dime is invaluable, as the sym
Dol ofmanly independence. Unconscious
ness of debt in a young man, begets incip-
lent meanness of character, and, when
continued, develops this into u confirmed
habit, tainting the whole nature. \ man
vet in his prime, who has accumulated II
fortune OF two millions by honest industry,
said, Il began with determination to
keep all my wages. When getting only
twenty-five cents u day, | always saved
something" This principle has carried
him, and win carry you, to high elevation
of character, to great influence, and to in
dependent fortune The OccideAt.