The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1891-11-20
Substitute for the Sub-Treasury

Substitute for the Sub-Treasury-
The following sensible article has
been sent to the BULLETIN for pub
LEGATION by a member of the AL
lance, who suggests that if the
methods adopted by the writer are
followed, no sub-treasury will be
needed.
NEAR GADsDEN, ALA, Sept. 20, 1891.
Every one you may meet with a few
exceptions) has something to say about
"hard times" slight money" etc., and If
you were to "catch on" to the complaint
you would be about as gloomy as the
most OF the people appear to be. have
a short truthful story 10 tell in your pa
per and hope il may aid the wise men in
our State to arrive at the cADse and the
remedy for hard times among the far
mers.
In 1867 found myself on fair aver
age farm, jult where | am now writing,
TO you, with one good mule, a broken
down army horse, fair set of farming
implements, mostly secondhand, but
1915 in cash. 1t was the last week in
January and the time was come for us to
"pitch our crops" for the year. had
small quantity of corn, about enough
with economy to feed my stock and give
my family meal for tour or five months.
Times were then hard with me sure
enough. Ny near neighbor was a little
better of but not as much as l thought
him to be at the time. We were talking
over the matter when he informed me
that he was going to Gadsden the next
day to make some arrangements for Gre
dit to enable him to make his crop, and
asked me to go with him and see what i
could do. We went to town. 1t wasn't
long before my neighbor had secured his
credit with note aud mortgage, which
he was to trade out during the year.
/ tried to do the same, but il was no go.
The merchants did not know me and /
could not make the security they deman
ded. Well. we went back home to-
gether, my neighbor with a smart load of
bacon, -four, coffee, and dry goods and
shoes for the children, with dress for his
wife, and Sunday coat for himself. My
wagon was empty and i, diseonsolate,
with nothing to take my fireside but a
heavy heart and a will to work. L told
my wife all about my failure to get Gre
dit and we talked the matter over and
over until midnight. "Well." said she
"Tom We have got two co ws, some hens
and a few pigs, a good garden and the
best of health. So we will stay at home
and get our credit from our work" Bless
her soul, she was the wisest woman, |
think, that ever lived on earth, and among
the best who ever went TO heaven. i took
her advice, and at the end of the year, |
had seven good bales of cotton, $50 bush
les of corn, had saved 1900 pounds of ba-
con, banked up snugly 100 bushels of
sweet potatoes; while my good wife had
$14.60 made from eggs, chickens butter
honey, and besides had bought herself a
simmer dress and bonnet and cloth
enough to make the undergarments for
all the children. Aad best of all L did
not owe a man on earth a cent.
NV neighbor who had the credit
could not get made eleven bales of cotton,
a small corn crop. no meat and had run
his credit until he was several hun dred
dollars in debt. 1 met him in Gadsden,
during the month Of January, 1868, af-
ter he had settled with the mer-
chants and had sold his cotton.
All he had to show for his years
work was new buggy, that he really did
not need, and about $50 in cash In 1872
my neighbor sold out to pay his bebts and
keep the sheriff away and moved to Tex
as, where he came to want. The same
year bad 3, $50 loaned out and draw
ing good interest, well secured, and L
have never borrowed a cent, or thing from
any man or had my name on a merchants
book for a nickle's credit. have often
thought and believe most firmly that the |
best thing that ever happened to me was
my failure to get credit in 1867.
Near twenty-four years have passed |
since l had my disconsolate ride back |
to my humble home from Gadsden. |
have since reared family of seven chill |
dren, given them the best education the !
country could offer, built a large new |
house and barn and have enough thank |
the good Lord to keep me and my family |
in comfort as long as / shall live. l want
no sub-tressury and never wanted il but
once and then, thank God, / could not
get-it. There il not farmer in Alabam a,
worthy the name ct farmer, who cannot !
do what have done.-W. Il. Nee in the
Age Herald.