Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-04-29
CHEAP PURCHASES.
SOME WISE REFLECTIONS ON COVETOUS-
NESS AND P4RSIM0NY.

Everybody seems bent on making cheap
purchases. Prudence and economy are OF
course to be commended, Wastefulness is to
be avoided, and care should be taken never
to pay more for anything than it is worth.
But we should never desire to get anything
forlessthanitis worth. This is scovetousness.
Is it not indeed sheer dishonesty? Is it not
in the principle involved, form of steal
ing? All legitimate trade benefits both
parties, and under ordinary circumstances,
benefits both equally. The buyer gives
dollar for a certain article because that arti-
Gle is worth more to him than the dollar.
The seller gives the article for the dollar,
because the dollar is worth more to him than
the article. But suppose that the buyer in
vents or discovers some way of getting
dollars worth of something for half dol
lar. Is not somebody damaged to the ex-
tent of half dollar? What is the nature
of the wrong thus done? 1t may be called
skilful trading or sharp practice, or some
other euphemism may be pressed into
service; but the fact is, that one man has
come into possession of another's goods in
way which the Scriptures do not sanction.
Can we imagine Jesus Christ driving hard
bargain and trying to get something for
nothing? Can you imagine that he would
smile upon you, if he saw you trying to get
dollars worth of something for ninety-tive
cents, or for ninety-nine cents? Every dol
lar, every cent, that man saves in this
way, puts sore and scab on his soul. The
world does not call it stealing, but there are
some distinctions drawn in this life, which
will be lost sight of when we come to stand
before the judgment. The pick-pocket and
the unfair trader, or the man who de-
sires to be an unfair trader, will not be SO
far apart in character as they are now sup
posed to be. "It is naught, it is naught
saith the buyer; but when he is gone his
way, then he boasteth." Prov. Xxx. IA.
That is, he tries to depreciate the value OF
the goods in the estimation of the seller to
induce him to sell at less than the proper
price, and when he goes away he boasts OF
his abilities as a trader-really, as sharper.
Such is human nature. But, dear children,
we pray you make yourselves as different
from the average man, in this respect, as
possible. Have nothing in your possession
for which you have not paid the tull value.
Would this impoverish you? Then be
poor-and be happy!
The same principles apply in paying
money for services rendered. If man
does dollars worth of work for you, pay
him dollar for it; better pay more than
pay him less. In the one case you have
only wasted some money; in the other, you
have stolen some. You cannot afford to pay
him so much? You certainly cannot afford
to cheat him, nor to take advantage of him
in any way. Think of a woman trying to
support herself and two or three children
by making shirts at twenty-five cents a
dozen! Oh, ghastly horror! Is it possible
that we commit such murder, for the sake
of buying cheap goods? Yes. Competition
among dealers prompts them to force down
the wages. Why this fierce competition:
Because everybody wants to buy his goods
cheap! Oh, pay ten prices for garment,
rather than wear one which cost the flesh
and blood of the maker of it! If all ex-
changes, whether of merchandise or OF Ia
Dor, either muscular or intellectual, were
paid for at their full and real value, there
would be but little bankruptcy, and but lit
tie pauperism, and there would be greatly
diminished crime, and diminished expense
of crime, and there would be increased pros
perity, and improved morals, and the
dawning of a brighter day than the world
has ever seen. We, of the Hade:r family
land we count all our readers as part OF,
the family cannot control this world; but
each one of US can control himself. Let US
be separate from the world in this particu-
lar. Let the very thought of obtaining
anything for less than its value, be for our
adherence, and for our disgust. So shall
our "vote" be for the right, and at the last
day we shall not regret it, t.-Mristian hnder.