Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-02-23
a Young Man Running in Debt.

A young man running in debt is a painful
sight. The disposition to do this is the
forerunner AMI exponent of all evil. Apos-
toc authority says: The love of money is
the root of all evil" But when a young
man loves money so well as to get it while
knowing he cannot repay, or be willing to
take it before he has honestly earned it,
there is, in the most cases, lying behiT this,
some passion so strong as to thus overbear
his mo raj principles in clamoring for its in
dulgence Pleasure, especially unlawful
pleasure, is a perllous and exhaustive thing.
Lawful, necessary, and healthful pleasure,
like the pure mountain air, and the gushing
waters of the mountain spring, has been
made accessible by our Creator, at compare
lively little trouble and expense Any in
dulgcnce may be known as unlawful when it
can be reached only by running 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. quarried from the depths
and springs of our being. No person ever
travelled on that highway so attractive IN
prospect, without becoming bankrupt, and
pawning hi. own peace and lite long before
he got to the end of his journey.
Whenever a young man of moderate sala-
ary, is seen always cramped for money, and
ready to borrow of his friends, he Is surely
on the downward grade of respectability.
Willingness to run in debt is itself great
vice. 1t is c~used by the wish to crafty
the unlanf.l craving lying behind, as yet
perhaps undisclosed to the eyes of the world.
Experienced men really judge What this
want of money indicates; and however fair
your character may seem in other respects,
they will lie satisfied from this alone, that
there is some hidden tant and unsosndness.
However small your income, always live
within your means. There is less unhappi-
hess in doing without necessary things than
there is in the consciousness of being in debt.
HerOdotus says, that among the ancient
persians, ITO tell lie is considered by them
the greatest disgrace next to that to be in
debt; and this for many reasons, but espe
cially because they think that one who runs
in debt must, of necessity, tell lies. Does
not your experience, your consciousness, tell
you this is true?
Always keep an unspent and unpawned
dime in the bottom of your pocket. Its
touch will alwsys be invigorating; and with
talismsnic power, send through your SOUL
an energy making you carry countenance
flushed with honorable frankness. This sim
pie dime is invaluable, as the symbol of
manly independence. The consciousness of
debt, in young man, begets iucipient mean
ness Of character, and when continued, de-
veIOpes this into confirmed habit, tainting
the whole nature. A man yet in his prime,
who had accumulated fortune of two mil
lions by honest industry, said, Il began
with a determination to keep within my
wages When getting only twenty five cents
day, always saved something. This
principle has carried him, and will carry you,
to high elevation of character, to great in
fuenco aGd to independent fortune. The
OccjieRt