The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-12-05
Keep Gut OF Debt.

The slow fire over which mortals are
toasted and consumed, and which press
es like palsy upon their minds, is debt /;
and it more frequently causes death than
is generally supposed. No one enjoys
perfect liberty as long as he is indebted
to others. From the moment he signs
his name to any paper promising to
pay" or has an account against him, he
loses very much of independence, that is,
if he is honest and intends to meet his
obligations. If a rascal and has no in
tention of paying, ne cares little for any
thing. We know, as do all who have
been engaged in business for any consid-
erable time, the great difficulty of follow
ing the golden rule.of "pay as you CO."
much as We may desire to do so. The
needs of the hour are sometimes too
pressing to be denied, and confident in
our future ability, We yield TO the siren
song of credit, and permit the chain to
be slipped around our necks, and are no
longer free. But debt is a slow and sure
fire. As long as one is in it, he is work
ing for others, and it hangs as the heav-
lest of millstones about his neck. 1t is a
fire above which he is constantly sus-
pended, and which is ever kept supplied
with fuel. In the distance looms the
execution and the sheriff. IL robs man
Of his sleep, and sits a skeleton at his
table. 1t sticks by his side every hour
of the day, and is the veriest imp OF
nightmare when darkness rules the hour.
A man beyond the suspicion of debt
stands fair before the world; one known
to be in debt is often suspicioned. 1t
robs a man of his fair name, for, be he
ever so honest, there are many chances
against paying-life, health and shrink
age in values; and many time he cannot
pay when he has promised and expects
to do so. Some one has failed him his
failure causes another, and so Oh through
long line, and perhaps even to disaster
and ruin.
With weary heart the debtor tolls.
He feels but zoo deeply that the proceeds
OF his work must go to pay for others fail
ures, and it is difficult for the most honest
man to submit cheerfully. Payments may
become due when he is needing the money
for pressing uses. 1t is usually hard to pay
old debts, and the worry consequent upon
it is the slow fire that is the worst torture
to many man.
A man, if blessed with health and
strength, who is out Of debt, may snap
bis fingers at care and the world. If the
reverse, he is ever rolling the stone o
Sysiphus up hill and it is constantly roll.
ed back upon him so heavily that it may
crush him, despite his best endeavor
Many one has his quietus made with
little more than bare bodkin, wher
driven by debt; many q man has beer
roasted over the slow fire, to at last give
up the struggle and perish miserab!y. L
is the iron collar, the iron mask, worn by
him whose name has never been writer
upon the pages of history; it is as shir
of hair, constantly Calling.
1t will be day of rejoicing when crcdi
is no more. Shall We ever live to see 1t
1t is doubtful, yet we can do somethin!
to hasten the time, and all should worl
earnestly for lis dawning. The sooner i
comes the better. The sooner account
books are banished, the sooner will busi
ness be established upon firm basis
Like many another necessary evil, eartl
need not weep over the downfall of credit
How, as nearly as possible, is this de
sirable end to be gained? The answer
a simple one and contained in nutshell
We should all pay up as soon as possibl
and avoid, as much as in us lies debt il
the future. The coming times promis
better opportunities than the past. LIE
US avail ourselves of the coming sunshine
keep out of debt, and avoid death by it
| .lnm fire -Lerinnfon Disnntch