Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-07-30
4 Talk in the Cars.

elf you are out of debt, it is easy to
keep out; but if you are in debt and have
to pay interest money it's hard pull. "
So said the first speaker in the car seat
behind us, as we were going home after
work, to the seat-mate beside him.
IL don't know about that" replied the
one addressed; it makes all the difference
in the world who the man is. Some men
cant keep out of debt any more than a
hen can keep out of the garden. If they
get out, they get in again just as quick as
they can, and seem as happy about it us
old Tilley was about his soul"
"Yes, l know" continued the first
speaker; :" but | tell you it is easy 10
keep out of debt ii you once get out; for
if man has been harassed by debt as
much as | have for the last ten years he
will have learned lesson that will be
worth q good deal to him. 1t is all in
being independent, and in making up
your mind to get along without things,
and not getting them till you have the
money to pay for them. And even then |
have taught myself to keep my money in
my pocket, even when | wanted n thing
very much indeed and could have paid for
it. But my experience has taught me
that man is not half so liable to buy
things he does not absolutely need, if he
has the money in his pocket, AS he is if he
gets it on credit
a. have always thought the other way
about that" said the other, beginning be-
fore the first speaker had fairly stopped.
" You see, if the man has the stamps in
his fist, away they 90 for things here and
there, and before he stops to think he is
two or three dollars out; but if he don't
have the money he can't spend it, and
very likely he won't buy the things and
get them charged"
"Well, that depends upon the man too,
and the places he has been through" put
in the one who had begun the converse
ton. Experience is worth something,
and if man don't learn anything from it,
he is a dull scholar. Now my experience
has been that with money in his wallet
which he has worked hard to earn, he is
going to be careful how he puts it out,
and he is sure he is going to get the worth
of his money in things he needs before he
spends it. This is likely to be the case il
he has had hard time to pull through a
lot of old debts, but if he has, and has
got through, he is going to hold on TO his
money, now l tell you"
"You have been harassed by debt for
ten years, Tom?" said his seat-mate, in
quiringly. Nobody knew it. thought
you were getting on first rate"
"Well, | am now," replied the speaker
who had begun this conversation; " but
for the past ten years | have had hard
time and have been in debt every mo
ment. As you say, people generally have
not known it, but then | felt every day as
though everybody knew it. Why, wher
| lived down on the Plains and traded
with Sawyer (and you know folks cal
Sawyer sharper) l have stood on hi!
door step many an evening, molasses jug
in hand, dreading to 60 into the store be
cause lots Of my old neighbors were sitting
around the stove, and knew had got tc
have that molasses charged, and was ow
ing Sawyer forty or fifty dollars besides
and felt as though everybody knew tina
too. Well, Charley as true as you live
after little Harry died and we had sickness
in the family. l had to turn my COW ovel
to Sawyer, and besides hired seventy five
dollars to pay up my bills. Then came
on dull times and for two or three winters
| got no work, for there was no building
going on. And before I could manage t(
pay that money I'll bet l paid it once il
interest. But paid it and owe no man ;
bill I can't pay before night this very day
And l tell you l feel independent. | asl
no man to put his name on my paper
pay for my molasses when [ get it.
give little 10 the minister every Sunday
for Betty's sake, and generally have few
trade dollars in my pocket just 10 jingle
l like the sound of them. And depent
upon it, Charley, that's the way to"
CHERRY Hill" shouted the brakeman