Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1877 — Hard Times. [ARTICLE]

Hard Times.

The campaign of hard work on the farm is about to commence. To many the prospect is gloomy. From various causes there are a large class who ire financially crippled, and see not how the spring and l summer are to be bridged over. Entering the season of work without any spare money and nothing on hand which they can turn off to procure the necessary groceries, clothing for the family and the repairs of the farm, the prospect is gloomy. And those alone who are in this position, .and hiving the loving and innocent eyes of a family looking to them for a support, and for such things as other wives and children receive, can alone appreciate the situation. Yet they should recollect that the real necessaries are few, simple and cheap. This remark is applicable to food and clothing. Health does not depend on thrf luxuries of the table; but, on the contrary, we .are a nation of dyspeptics, for the reason that we eat too much, and especially of that which is too rich. For health, comfort and strength, we need but few things, and those few are in the possession of nearly all farmers, no matter how much reduced the' stock of provisions. The important thing is, to be content with what we have. It is not so much the scarcity or plainness of the food, but the consciousness that necessity confines us to it. Nor is fine clothes necessary for the comfort and respectability of ,the family. We rejoice that we live; in an age and country, that the texture of qlothes do not establish the standard of morals, intelligence or refinement. Live uprightly, and as far as possible meet your obligations, but if you cannot pay, meet the creditor frankly, and keep the conscience clear. In this way, looking to Providence to bless your labor in a bountiful cropland to the Government for a sufficient currency to transact the business of the country prosperously, and the cramp of the next six months will be passed over Without the serious consequences anticipated by many. But we would beseech our farmer Meads, to contract as few debts as possible; Live plain, economizing in food and clothing. Make the products of the cows, the chickens and the garden not cnly supply your own table, hut its surplus supply other demands, without allowing your names to go on merchants’ or grocers ’ books. The practice is injurious to you and fatal to the merchants. Just fog tills reason improve on the fact that “a German will live on what an American throws away, and a Jew on what a 'German throws away, and that a Chinese {will live oh what a Jew throws away.” And yet all these classes enjoy really better health, and are able to do as much labor, and enter as fully into the pleasure and .rest of life as the first'class. Then, while the nation is approaching specie payment, let us, by strict economy, and by fidelity! tq business, be able to make resumption personal to all our cases. Debt is bondage. Debt is a hard taskmaster, and as a master it is degrading and galling. By industry and strict economy the thousands of mortgages on the farms of the West can and should be paid. By eiotravagafice and heglect of business thq present, debtors will never redeem their farms, nor leave any mark for their posterity.— lowa State Register.