Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-02-22
FARMERS DEBTS.
AVOID BORROWING MONEY AS
SOMETHING TO BE DREADED
AND STUNNED.

SOMETHING TO BE DREADED
AND STUNNED.
There are many farmers who are
in no danger Of getting into deOt'
They are we'll of, have money ID
the bank OF loaned elsewhere, ana
make good profits from their farms
besides their interest money. Such
farmers always have plenty OF
money, or, if not, they have only
70 draw from their invested capital.
It's tar Otherwise with large
class of farmers. If not already in
debt more or less they are often
near its borders and strongly
tempted to enter. Two classes OF
influences are at work to get farm
ers into debt. One class includes
the desire to make a show, to ride
in style, etc. Often the farmer
works hard and economies, keep
ing out of debt till his children are
growing up. They must have
things that father and mother
never thought of having. They
have no scruples about running In
debt; it seems easy. The old folks
oppose in vain and the family en-
ter upon a course which brings I'M
told pain and sorrow. l have
known an instance where a man
and his wife worked hard, bought
a farm and nearly paid for it. But
one of their sons must have a hne
horse and carriage and other things
TO match. The result was that tue
farmer got entangled in debt and
in the end, which soon came, he
lost all his property except MS
household goods. That son Is
worth very little to-day, and the
father and mother had no home In
their old age except by the charity
Of Others. 1t is a sad thing to 60
in DEBT to crafty pride or love OF
pleasure. Let farmers and their
children beware of this great evil.
But there is another class OF IN
Anences which impel men into
debt. There are times when 1t
certainly seems best to hire money.
Take an example. A son takes
the old farm with its poor build
ings. He brings his wife home,
children are born to them, and he
finds the cold, incOnvenient house
is killing the dear ones. file has a
little money saved up, decides to
fix up the old house as the
tmbers are good. He has, say,
5000. This he thinks will do the
work, but so much has to be done
that IN the end he finds himself
one. two, or three hundred dollars
in debt. Suppose he has to pay
six, twelve or eighteen or more
dollars a year IN interest, the
added comfort and convenience
and health of his family fully re-
pay this, as well as the cost OF re-
pairjnr. Other cases occur at
times when It seems necessary to
run into debt; but if farmers were
more deeply impressed with the
evil of debt, they would suffer
much before allowing themselves
TO be bound by its ch ain. IL is al
wavs best to have, if possible, a
sum laid by to use in case OF a
sudden need for money. Slckn ess
may come, a horse may die and a
new one have to be bought, a
thousand unforeseen cases may oc-
cur IN which money will have to
be used, and if it is not at hand, II
must be borrowed. 1t is a very
good plan to keep a cash account,
nothing down all money received
and paid. This shows where the
money goes Too often 1t goes a
little here and a little there for
things not actually needed, and 80
when the real need comes the
money to meet it is gone. Then it
is hard to pay debts. Crops may
tail, loss may come in many ways,
and it is sad indeed when the re-
lentless money-lender takes the
farmers all. Let every farmer
avoid debt as something to be
dreaded and Stunned. 1t is not
necessary to be stingy and pari-
monious, but self.denial is neces'
sary, and however hard, it is not
as hard as financial ruln.-Cor'
Rural Nelo Yorker.