The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-12-31
"How much rent do you pay ?" asked

"Can you afford to pay so much 2"
mo"
"Then, why do you pay it 2"
because L can't get house to suit
me for any less"
"Suit you !" exclaimed the neighbor,
shaking his head. "Ah, my good friendl
I see where the trouble lies. Ii ia what
suits--what is desired not what can
be afforded that governs you in expendi-
ture. No man who lives by this rule can
hope for anything but the worry and hui
initiation of debt.
(Which have to my hearts content"
said Ellis, bitterly. "And struggle as
1 will, 1 cannot free myself from its
coils"
Don't say that. You may if you
will"
eff you will show me the way out Of
this dreadful state of affairs, will hold
you as my truest friend"
The neighbor was silent for some mo-
ments.
care you really in earnest 2" he asked
at length.
"Never more SO, in my life," replied
Ellis.
"Will you lay before me full state
ment of your affairs ?"
eyes"
"And then follow strictly the line of
action / demonstrate TO your reason as
the only one that will lead you out of this
labyrinth of trouble in which you are in
vOlved?"
81 will
"Come to my house, this evening""
said the neighbor. Bring with you u
statement, as near rs you can make it out,
of all you owe, and the longest time you
can get for its full payment. We will
then look the matter squarely in the face,
and see what can be done"
The list of unsettled accounts brought
in by Mr.. Ellis was long and discour-
aging one, amounting in all to over
fifteen hundred dollars.
i am ashamed to make this exhibi-
ton, he said, in n choking voice, and
with look of humiliation
The neighbor went over the list in a
quiet, business way, ticking off various
items with his pencil. He then made a
list of these items, and, footing up the
amount, said: "These are all things that
might have been done without, and you
see they have cost you over three hun
dred dollars.
eyes, see," answered Ellis, in
subdued voice.
"And think it may be safely assum-
ed" said the neighbor, "taking your
way of doing things, that you have let
as much more run through your fingers
in expenditures of various kinds not alb
solutely demanded for health or comfort
in your family"
Mr.. Ellis assented.
"Here then, are between six and seven
hundred dollars i'll Il single year nearly
half the amount of ell you owe. The
wonder is, if you have been going on in
thisloose way forten years, that "you are
not three times as much in debt as you
are. The remedy is plain. Don't you
see it"
eff L were even with the world, see
how might not only keep out of debt,
but save something every year. But
what am | to do with this debt Z" asked
Ellis, gloomily.
"'To keep on in the way you have been
going will not help to pay it off. "
"No; that is clear enough"
iOu lliNC bCCh tSOllS III Vic WlOllS
way, Mr.. Ellis" continued the neighbor.
"lf you keep on In that way, trouble,
worry. humiliation and final disaster are
sure to come. You must stop, turn
around, and go the other.way. Every
step you take in this new way will lead
you toward pecuniary ease and comfort
of mind. 1t will be better with you in
three months from to-day, if you have
cut down your ordinary expenditures
which may be done-two hundred and
fifty dollars, than if you had not cut
them down ut all. You will not only
have lightened the burden of debt Just
SO much, but have laid the foundation
of Il new order of things that will lead
you to pleasant and prosperous fu
turc.
Mr.. Ellis sat in silent thought for
long time. Then, looking up, he said,
with deep sigh {" shall not have a
dollar of ready money to begin with.
Everything / can raise will have to be
exhausted on these bills, or ] shall be
tormented out of my life l must pay a
little here and little there put this
one off with promise, and That one
with frowning denial. Oh, dear, what
miserable life it is /. And 1 must still
keep the grocer's pass-book going, or
starve."
"Cash down 1t must be cash down :"
exclaimed the neighbor. "There is no
other hope for you!"
"But where is the cash to come
from 2"
Reserve enough from the payment
of bills to keep your table and pay your
servants wages. Take your wife fully
into your confidence. Lay your affairs
all open before her. Put the money
needed for expenses INTO her hands, and
ask her to make it so as far as possible
Spend nothing yourself. in fact, don't
carry money about you. 1t is tempta-
ton.
Mr.. Ellis drew long, deep breath.
IF L had clear one hundred dollars
to start with" he said.
The neighbor understood him, and
would have cheerfully placed that sum
at his disposal but he did not think it
well. 1t would be best for Mr.. Ellis, in
the end, if he worked out his own pecu-
mary salvation.
"To meet the difficulties and over
come them," he replied, give us dis
cipline and strength. 1t isn't the hun
dred dollars you want, but the courage