American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-01-23
Pay As You Go.

AMONG the storms of winter, and es-
pecially a storm that seldom fails to visit
every locality about the first of January
is a shower of bills. How they come in
these great snowflakes-and they stick
and stare at you until they are paid and
stick and stare at you when they are paid
Among the multitude of resolutions
formed for the new year there is no bet
ter one than a resolve to pay as you go.
1t seems passing strange that the pay
ment of debts should be inculcated upon
protesting Christians, and yet is there
any evil habit to which Christian men
are more addicted than that of mourning
debt which they cannot discharge at
maturitys And the causes of this con-
dition of things are many and multiform.
Sometimes it is the result of a weak de-
sire to live in a style beyond ones means.
Oftentimes it is the result of thoug htless-
ness, or a general unwillingness to sys-
tematiZe ones expenditures. Often it
proceeds from free-heartedness and a
desire to do for others, especially for the
family, more than ones circumstances
admit and not infrequently it is owing
to spirit of extravaganza which is
legitimate Inheritance from tatherto son.
But, whatever the cause may be, as a gen
eral rule debt can be avoided and much
unhappiness saved. To do this, above
all firmly resolve to live within your
means, however limited they may be;
make no promises which you have not a
reasonable certainty of keeping; be firm
in applying whatever money you may
have on hand to the liquidation of some
debt in whole or in part, and above all
avoid, so far as possible, contracting
future obligation wherewith to pay IA
present one.
And in your purchases: when you
want that for which you cannot pay at
the time, wait till you can, before pro-
curing it, and when you do get it you
will enjoy it all the more for the sacrifice
which it has cost. There is Il true nobility
in denying yourself that which you can
not afford which will increase your own
self-respect and raise you in the esti-
nation of your friends. do you see
this addition which 1 have just put up?"
said friend in our hearing, not long ago.
I" l was offered loan on my house; but
no, thought would wait. l did wait
Things which wanted ! denied myself.
Finally accumulated sufficient to pay
for my Improvements. They cost more
than the carpenters and mason's bills:
they cost spirit of sacrifice; and don't
you suppose l enjoy it all the more for
this?" And he was right.
Nor do we forget that there are some
who cannot pay; there are those who,
unfortunate in business, simply cannot
meet their obligations. They have
bought on falling market; their good
name is unscathed though their credit
has been dishonored by those who had
engaged to protect it; parties owing
them have failed to pay them, and bank
ruptcy stares them in the face. But for
all that-and you can find such people
everywhere-you do not doubt them, you
are drawn to them in their misfortune as
you never were in their prosperity; you
are only too glad to do all in your power
to help them, and in so doing discharge
only a simple Christian duty. 1t is not
of such that we speak.
Debt: There is no worse demoTaliZer
of character. The sad records of de-
faulting, embezzling and dishonest fail
ures which we meet with so constantly
in the daily press are often, indeed most
frequently, the result of the demoraliZa-
ton of debt and consequent desperate
efforts at eXtrication. The financial
props have given way. The little debt
which at first was as small as grain of
mustard seed, like the rolling SNOWFALL,
has gathered weight and multiplied itself
"A thOusandfold. And still it grows, and,
like the fabulous hydra which Hercules
was sent to kill, you no sooner strike off
one head than two shoot up in its place.
The struggle is severe. but in the end de-
cisive; either confession is made of a |
hopeless bankruptcy which might and |
should have been avoided, or integrity is |
sacrificed to the temptation of the mo-
ment. Debt ruins as many households |
and destroys as many fine characters as |
rum; it is the devils mortgage on the |
soul, and he is always ready to foreclose.
Pay your grocer; pay your pew bills; |
pay your minister. Be indebted for |
nothing but love, and even that be sure |
you pay in kind, and that your payments |
are frequent; we especially commend |
this advice to old Christian
1f Work