Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-08-07
Debt.

Tho noarcst synonym for dobtis death.
Dcbt has Ronc stroaks of light around its
dark mantle. So has death. Debt ropreS
scnts the fact Of character. 1t may be-
past fact; nevertheless, nt the tiuc whom it
was incurred its yictin! had character.
Thus debt stands for something. It is tho
lowest possible condition to bo too poor to
get in debt. Tho noxt lowest is to got in
debt Tho highest is to be able to got in
debt and not do it. Itis like the ability to
sin, which argues great confidence on the
part of Creator, aud which, unactualized,
argues great cxaltation on tho part of tho
creature. The happicst condition is, having
been in debt TO get out again-so you can
feel that no man has any claim against you;
that 10 man can justly say, III own part of
his lfc." Many poor soul, in tl.csc days
Of hard settlements, look upon heaven us
endowed with new attractions in that there
will be no debt there.
The hardest strain on character is to be
so incased in debt that whichever way one
turns he strikes against some impossible
wall. TO beat about in such cngc, and
DO forever struggling to do justice, and
honor God, and preserve integrity, is tho
highest test Of character. Brother, If you
are overheard in mi,i-occan, it will try your
quality to swim your bcst--but God is dc,
vcloping you. Swim ns long as you eau,
and God may either send ship or whale
to take you up. If any land appears along
the horizon anywhere, swim towards that
1t is not absolutely necessary that you
should reach it. It is necessary that YOU
should swim your best That will save
character. 1t is not necessary for you to
die, leaving good estate. But it is neces
sary that you should preserve perfect intcg.
rity. Poverty is not the worst thing in the
world; sin is the worst thing in the universe.
Make dead fight to pay your debts, aud
keep your integrity. Don't lie down. If
you arc knocked down, that is not your fault.
Don't dodge. IF you arc hit, accept it as
part Of Providence.
No man comes to his best development
of manliness till lie has looked the wolf out
Of couutenanco 1t is heavy strain on
your nerve, but it is ono of Gods processes
Poverty and dobt are tho professors iu
Gods University, to whom is committed
the perfccting of tho Senior Class. The
lcssous are long and hard, but that is the
way ability is maturcd.
10 live on short rutions and Iabitualy
dcny ono's wife and children the luxuries
and comforts of life, because ono's earnings
Justly belongs to somebody who has had the
confidence to lend helping hand to poisc
every Investment over the point of obliga~
tion 10 creditor; to carefully study ones
endurance as so much due to another, und
use it as trust fund in such way as TO get
tho most out Of it for another; TO mako
sxpencc do the work of shilling; to OK,
plorc every penny for its last and utmost
capacity; to study how to do without things;
to learn how not to want things those
arc the lessons in tho higher classes Of Gods
University. Brother, stand firm. The
outer mau may shiycr and .remblc under
these loads, but the inner man--tho rcul
man--can grow strong and acquire beauty
that will break out of the hard bud ia the
genial light of tho world to oomc Stand
up to his training, and whom you have
graduated, whichever men may read on this
side of it saints and angels will read: "Gfad,
uatcd with honor