Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-07-17
Borrowing and Borrowers.
[rrom Id Ncw York ob.error.l !

lpno VI lSAl VI scripture, anu now ~
happened is on ills wise,
You remember that in the second
book OF Kings it is written that the
students of a theological seminary
thought their quarters were too small,
and proposed TO the President, whose
name was Elisha, that they should
build something on a larger scale.
He gave his consent, and they went to
work. As they were cutting down a
tree on the banks Of the Jordan, the
axe Of one Of the students tell into the
water and sank the loser cried out
and said, "Alas master for il was
borrowed" Now, ON taking up
new and learned commentary on this
Book, by Dir. Kiel, find that in his
notes upon this text he says, "The
word here borroioed is be9ged the
meaning to b0rrolo is attributed from
a misinterpretation; the prophets
pupi! had begged the axe, because
from his poverty he was unable to
buy one; and hence the loss was SO
painful to him"
| had always valued that toxt as
one left on long record, us a tcstimo.
nial that one man once lived who re.
GREETED the loss OF thing the more
because il was borrowed, than If it
had been his own. To be sure, we
have not the young mans name /; like
Lots wife, he is an anonymous indi.
vidual. But his virtuous exclamation
Of sorrow, his plaintive wall as the
axe fell from bis hand and sank be.
meath the wave, was to go down to
all times as the fitting reflection of
evory right man when he loses any.
thing that he had borrowed Dr..
Jameson, who has just made new
commentary on Kings, holds fast to
the old idea of the translator, though
he gives mean kind of reason for tho
young mans grief He writes:
"Tho scholars distress arose from
the consideration that the axe had
been lent to him; and that oUiRq 10
his poverty he could net procure
another"
That is too bad. In my innocence
l supposed the young man was sorry
that he had lost another mans prop
crty and because of his own poverty
could not replace it. But DR.. jamie.
son thinks the boy was grieved only
because he could not get another axe.
Well, the Doctor has tho idea of most
borrowers, we must admit. An habit
ual borrower has as little conscience
as DR.. Jameson attributes to this
student OF DR.. Elisha's Theological
school, He keeps wha. he borrowed, !
till he regards it as his own; or, los. !
ing it, regrets the loss on his own &c.
count only, and not the owners.
A neighbor in tho country who
sends in every day to borrow a little
of this, and just little of that, and
very little Of the other thing,-now it
is milk, now eggs, now sugar, now
soap,-is not very desirable neigh.
Dor, except as all Affections, crosses,
vexations and trials, when properly |
received and enjoyed, are a sort of
good TO them who are exercised /
thereby, On this principle, such
TO be endured perhaps |
priced as blessings in disguise. Yet
they would find it much more for
their own comfort, to provide things
honestly for themselves, and cultivate
such habits of domestic economy as
would prevent the necessity OF their
taxing the faith and patience Of the |
saints who dwell near unto them.
Bookkeeping is science extensively !
cultivated by borrowers, and there is
probably less conscience on this sub [
lect than on umbrellas. llo who Dor.
rows the latter may feel that the |
owner is exposed without shelter TO /
the pitilcss pelting Of storm, and I
such feelings may lead to ponitence |
and restoration. But no sucn sau. !
atary meditation disturbs the calm
serenity of the wretch who has Dor
rowed bis friends book. Hc knew /
that his friend had read the book, aud /
therefore he prctcnds TO himself that
II cannot be wanted again. lie reads
IL without remorse And when ho
has read it, he bcholds it from time TO
lime standing in broad daylight bc.1
.oro him, silent witness against him,
but no sense of guilt steals on his
senses no thought Of regret for his
1wn wrong, nor pity for his despoiled
.iieBd stirs in tho deeps of his dc
'raved heart. Hardened by long in.
inlgence in this course OF ovldoing,
le has beer lost TO all the genter
considerations Of propriety, friendship,
honesty and honor until, from being
! borrower, he has como TO be thief,
md thinks it no in,
A clergyman of my acquaintance
vas asked If he had read new and
'aluqblo publication, aud on his say.
ng that he bad not, the loan of it was
Il once offered to him. He declined
I, with the remark that ho did not
cad any books which he could not
'uy. OF course, lie would not decline
he aid Of public libraries, whore
looks are lent for hire, and every sub.
cribor is part owner; but ho would
lot get his knowledge from borrowed
looks, nor sponge upon his friends
Broken. sets of books stand as me.
norals OF my un.rustworthy friends.
n an hour Of weakness | permitted ,
hc books TO 60 from the shelves, aud
he places that knew them once know
hem no more. 1t would be grateful
o my laccrated feelings If the Dor
over would return and take away
he remains Of the set, or restore the
Missing volumes TO the empty space /
IL is not possible TO ask u man to /
eturn borrowed goods, books, money, 1
II ANYTHING olga without nntt;,,, a, ,