Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-01-04
Owning a Home.

There is no excuse for the shiftlessness, the
want of judgment, and lack Of ambition which
characterize too many Of our young men at
the present day in cmbarking in matrimonial
life. IL has become the rule now at once to
enter boarding houses, or rent at exorbitant
prices apartments in city houses, and years
are dragged along without bright look ahead,
without possessing in reality home, strug-
Cling from hand to mouth, perhaps to pay
rent or boarding bills, until after the best
part Of this life is passed, while little or moth
ing has accumulated, tho whole income is
needed for immediate wants, and no chance is
left for remedying the great mistake that was
made at the outset. In the FIRST place, it is
not prudent for any young man to marry until
he has by economy saved few hundred dol
lars above the amount which will be needed
in providing an outfit. Impatience is only
another name for imprudence, and those who
advise starting in life without knowing that
provision is made for emergencies, for the
demands Of an increasing family, for sickness,
and for disasters, are not good advisers. Yet,
too many times is the advice given to marry
at once or it may be too late" Ere a twelve
month has passed, the folly of the course is
felt, and every effort is needed to ward of the
trouble and provide for the exigencies which
should have been thought Of at the outset.
Marrying and boarding is with a majority Of
our young people the rule. Some with more
energy than others, commence housekeeping
at once in rented tenements and very few
dare attempt the acquisition Of home Of
their own.
Now, am not in such dread Of the " bug
bear, debt" as many are, and believe that
n home to struggle for from the first and
earned fairly and squarely, is the happiest
and best appreciated let our young men
look about them and sec how many chances
are constantly before them for acquiring, at
almost their own terms, comfortable home,
and our word for it, they will regret the money
they have for years paid into the hands Of
landlords and agents. There are, VIC venture
to say, hundreds of little places, consisting Of
house and an acre or two of land in our
suburbs which have been waiting for months
for purchaser. Situated in localities acces-
sible sometimes by horse.cars, always by
steam, they can be bought on the payment Of
a few hundred dollars down, the balance to
run for term Of years, almost at the option
Of the purchaser, at the legal rate Of interest.
Suppose place situated ten miles from the
city, to be bought for fifteen hundred dollars
three hundred dollars down and the rest in
\ yearly instalments of one hundred and fifty
or two hundred dollars we have known Of
such instances, and doubt not that any real
estate agent can mention many others. 1t
would require only an expenditure Of the
yearly instalment, with few dollars for taxes
and fifty dollars or so for season tickets, to
clear the homestead In few years. As an
equal amount would be needed for city rents
if such were to be paid, and the advantage Of
paying annually a sum into the savings bank
for we regard an investment in real estate
certainly good-oyer putting it into land
lords pockets is most apparent. Inyigorated
health, independence, solfreliance, are the
fruits of this cutting adriit from city life and
that these are worth striving for, is the iru
conviction of one who has succeeded.-MaS.
sachusetts PloHghRan.