The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-12-30
RUNNING IN DEBT.

There are a large class in this world who
regularly discount the future, and consc-
quently lead harrassed, miserable lives
Their heads are never above water, and
they are consequently never happy. A
heavy debt is always in their path and they
make no Roadway. Creditors meshes are
woven about their feet, and they are con-
stantly tripping on their backs all their
lives, Or tiounderin& about on all tours,
simply for lack of little forethought, pru-
dence, and calculation.
Store bills are the blisters which extract
all the sap from human happiness. Shun
the tradesman who evinces an eagerness
to supply them. Beware of the butcher or
baker who is more than willing to charge
your purchases. Depend upon it, he is
conspiring against your independence as
well as pour money.
A man," wrote Bacon, fought warily
to begin charges, which once begun will
continue"
sit is easy enough for a man," says
another writer, "who will exercise hearty
resolution, to avoid mourning the first Oh
legation; but the faculty with which that has
been incurred often becomes temptation
to second, and very soon the unfortunate
borrower becomes so entangled that no late
exertion of industry can set him free. The
first slip in debt is like the first falsehood
almost involving the necessity of proceed
ing in the same course, debt follows debt
as lie follows lie.'
Look out for the person who tells YOU
that he believes in the old proverb, "Let
us live while we live" Fight shy of the
prodigal individual. In ninety-n nine cases
out of hundred he is lavish with other
peoples money also. You will find, on
inquiry, that he owes tradesman here, a
mechanic there, and Systematically plum
ders those who can least afford to be rob-
bed of their rightful dues.
When you hear a person stigmatizing
frugality and economy as mean and small
traits of character, you may depend upon
it that he will, sooner Or later, if he does
not already, owe somebody large bill
which cannot be collected. He who begins
life by regarding economy as lowering and
belittling, will in time resort to the mean
est of devices for procuring money.
We have now a person in mind who
sneers at what he calls a certain neighbor' S
niggardness, and yet owes nearly every
tradesman within ritle-shot of his house.
Better by far have the reputa ton of being
close, and even penurious, than that of
tilching other peoples money.
Many wives who sigh at their lot are
wholly responsible that it is no better. -
They spend their husbands money before
it is earned, and keep their noses to the
grindstone from one years end to the other
Instead of being help meets, they are
merely help eats. They spend all they can
get hold of for dress-trappings, and muir
muir and complain that they have not more
to throw away in the same direction. How
many men have been discouraged by going
home, after a hard and perhaps unsuccess-
full days work, to hear their wivess descant
on the elegant things they have seen on
their afternoons shaping tour, and then
indulge in wishes that they could have
this pair of earrings, Or that pin, which
they have seen at the jewelers. establish
ment!
Such wives little know the pain they
often intlict upon husbands of generous
disposition, who desire to crafty their
every wish, regardless of their own comfort
and pleasure. When husbands and wives
learn to exercise frugality and economy, to
purchase only what they can afford, and to
lay by a portion of their income, the ag-
gregate of home happiness and domestic
enjoyment will be largely increased.