Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-05-18
GOING SECURITY.
BY Charles Scanlon.

was riding in central Nebraska
with farmer when we passed a farm
house much larger than common in
that country. II was surrounded by
trees, nice yard--well fenced, and had
good barn and other outbuildings.
The country is comparatively new and
such homes are not common in that
part Of the State. remarked that it
indicated comfort and prosperity. The
man with whom was riding said, eyes,
and that was mine until short time
ago"
then asked il he had sold it and
why? He replied that he had not sold
it but lost it by going security for
man who was thought to be well-of
and who bore himself in such a SUI
perior manner among his neighbors
that they rather regarded it as an honor
for him to ask favor of them.
He then continued in substance
about as follows:
My wife and myself came out here
more than twenty years ago as young
people. We had good health, worked
hard and economical severely, hoping
to give the children, several of whom
had come to our home, a better chance
than we had had We owned this
home and it was paid for.
"One day met my neighbor in the
road and in casual, matter of fact
way, he asked me if would do him
favor. ! replied that | would and he
said, "Well need some money for a
short time to finance a business under
taxing. or course | could get others
to go on my note but it is Just a matter
OF form that the bank requires two
names on the note, however good the
borrower may be.
had always refused to 20 security
but he was regarded highly in the COM
munity, seemed to have plenty of prop
erty and | simply did not have the
courage to refuse him, so there in the
road | endorsed his note and when il
came due few months later, the bark
notified me that all of his property was
mortaged for more than il would bring
or that he had put il out of his rands
so that they could not get it. To say
that | was thunderstruck is to state
The case mildly. lily wife had helped
to earn that property and it belonged
to her and the children fully as much
as to myself, and yet for lack of a 1T
tie courage and independence, hao
given away the home for which we hac
worked SO long and turned my wife anc
children without a roof over thei,
heads. then built this new LITTLE
snack up on the hillside, which as vo,
see, does not even have a foundation
under 1t, and there | am starting life
over again when ought to he having
1t easy. There is nothing but the dis
trict school here and our Children arc
old enough and advanced enough to h
sent away but we do not have the
money and they are helping me OF
on the little farm which we have
bought on credit when they ought TO be
in school, and all because | violated
my judgment and went security for
man whom all of his neighbors ther
discovered was a rascal and unworth,
OF the confidence and respect which
ne had CANNED by strutting among
us like a peacock and living and dress
ing as none Of us were able to do. He
may have played the same game in
some other community before he came
here for all know"
Near my childhood home was a man
OF whom heard my father speak often.
He was honest, hard working and fru-
gal He had accumulated some prop
erty, including good farm and COM
Portable home. He went security for
a neighbor and lost 5000, which while
not large sum, temporarily embarass-
ed him, and ! remember to this dav
that as child this seemed to b. q
large amount of money This was not
the only experience of the kind which
THIS man had, for | remember nv
rather saying that in spite of his in
dustry he had never gotten on in a
business way, because he had lost
thousands of dollars from time 70 time
by going security