The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1907-08-29
Abuse OF Borrowing.
(Southern Agriculturist.)

| (Southern Agriculturist)
1t is one thing to be neighbors, and
another to be nearby dwellers who
borrow. Of all the practices of a
country neighborhood, l think that
the greatest abusets the habit of bor-
rowing. And on certain streets, in
intimate neighborhoods, in most
towns the custom amounts to a posi-
tive evil Solomon, the wise man,
declares that the borrower is SER
want to the lender" and Shakespeare
does not hesitate to advise against
either being a borrower or a lender
on the ground that borrowing dulls
the edge of friendship and interferes
with the proper management of do
mestic affairs. Think a minute, and
you will agree with me that a bor-
rowing neighbor is nuisance. To
be interrupted at all hours and when
in the midst of any and all occupa-
tions by voice at the door begging
the loan of a cup full Of this or a
little piece of that, or the use of your
scissors or your patterns or your
latest magazine, does not always put
you in a pleasant frame of mind.
And when it comes to borrowing a
quarter or dollar or five dollars,
the test of friendship is strained. No
matter how friendly we are, we don't
like to be eternally called on for the
use of our goods or our money. So,
| say, the habit of borrowing is bad
in the extreme. The need must be
a pressing one, indeed, before | will
ask friend to lend me anything,
even for moment. suppose if l
should lose my purse or get caught
out in a hard rain, l should borrow
a car fare or an umbrella; or if |
should be taken with pain in the
midst of me when l had no one to
go for the pain-killer | should ask
the one nearest to me for a remedy;
but nothing short of an emergency
will induce me to borrow Of my
neighbors.
| read in a paper the other day
where some one was giving advice
on this subject, and three rules were
laid down for those who must bor-
row. They were these: First, do not
borrow unless it is absolutely neces-
sary; second, return promptly; third,
return in as good condition as you
receive. 1t is best to do without what
you need until you can send to the
store and buy; it is unkind and iE-
excusable to keep others from the
use of what belongs to them by keep
ing their property over time; and it
is disgusting to return a borrowed
article in torn or soiled condition,
or to crimp the measure.
AS examples of the borrowing
neighbor, | will recite a few instances
which have come under my knowl-
edge. One young woman met an
other on the street and invited her
to fashionable refreshment place
for treat. When the eatables and
drinkables were disposed of she bor-
rowed the price from her friends
purse, and that was the last mention
ever made of the matter by the bor-
rover. Another sent servant to
ask for few minutes inspection of
a pretty hat just sent home from the
milliner's. She kept the hat over
night and wore it to place Of amuse-
ment, just as though it were her own.
One woman made a practice of bor-
rowing thimble every day for a
week, although it was known that
some of her family went to town
every day and might have bought her
thinble. Another sent over at bed
time on many evenings for a scuttle
Of coal to start the fire in the morn
ing. One invariably waited until she
was all ready to make cake before
seeing that she possessed the neces-
sary ingredients; then had to borrow
something in hurry. know girl
who borrowed another's skirt to wear
to a funeral, and kept it all winter
and wore it out.
AS to books grow wrathy
when l begin to say what l think of
people who borrow books. Some in
dividuals seem to think a book COM
mon property, and therefore not to
be returned.
If you are a borrower, my friend,
let me insist that you be a careful
one, and return your neighbor's prop
erty at the right time, and in proper
condition. If you are sufferer at
the hands of others, take warning,
and do not fall into the evil way.
If you must borrow, do not abuse the
privilege.
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