Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-02-28
One Way Out.

/ don't propose to write ike a long
drawn-out wall because times are close
and In common with many of my neigh
bors and friends are wearing our old
clothes and living in a continued lenten
season; in brief, doing ones level best to
cut our expenses down to the size of our
incomes. I do not believe it possible
for any set Of rules mo matter how good
and true they may be) to so legislate as
to lift the burden that has fallen to the
shoulders of the people Of 1891. The
way out of the woods is on any trail that
will lead US to true real thrift. As a
people we must spend less than We earn
or come to grief. / cannot give mort
gage on my farm or stock, live up the
amount so acquired and not lose the
property mortgaged, and that justly,
unless have other means at command
to lift the note when it natures. Yet
thousands with nothing to fall back upon
have done that very bad piece Of bus
mess and now are In trouble, not because
of the greed of the bankers, but because
of their own bad management. / don't
want to pinch any ones toes harder than
my own for am in the soup with every
body else but am happy to believe that
have struck trail that will, If patient
ly followed, enable me to climb the
slippery bank to the verge and to final
ly get out debt and have somewhere a
home of my own. By an unfortunate
turn of affairs few years ago 1 lost
every dollar that 1 possessed and still
had debts to the amount of several
hundred dollars unpaid. proved up on
a homestead and sold it for $1,000, paid
off old debts to the amount of half that
sum bought team, wagon and farm
ing tools and still had little left for a
nest egg, with which I bought thirteen
calves, eleven heifers and two steers.
The next spring bought a high grade
male calf and was on my way out.
determined that nothing but actual
starvation should compel me to sell one
calf, unless a mature or barren COW,
until 1 had built up herd as large as
could handle. 1 bought those calves six
years ago October last and have cared |
for them the best I possibly could, have
met with some losses but have seen my |
little bunch of bawlers grow into long |
er bunch, numbering to-day sixty-eight |
and if this springs calf crop comes in |
all solid, We Will get well up into the
nineties this year. They are our home
makers. We have every one Of them
named and have personal |
regard and acquaintance with each
one from old Prince down to Buster the
last calf and as they string out across the
prairie, l say to my self, that is my way |
out. In addition have sold steers to the
amount of S155.50, and have butchered |
twice for the home table and have always |
as a matter of course, had milk and but
ter for the family. In conclusion l Will /
add that not a hoof has a mortgage on it,
if do go ragged, and don't eat dinner at
a hotel every time come to town and do
burn chips while at home, and see that
am on the.right track and 1 know it and
don't propose to be iostled off One more
conclusion and 1 am done. Any man can
do better than have if he VIII try, and
take no chances that can by the exercise
of his best Judgment and exertion be
avoided. II he is lazy or careless he Will
fail, or if he trusts to luck he may be done
up In one bad storm. True thrift is the
only way out. Put that in your cap and
wear it.
Respectfully,
OLD RUsTLER-