The Exorbitancy Of Meanness

Few extravaganzas of man or woman lay such a heavy stress upon the

pocket-book or purse as meanness. This may seem paradoxical, but it's

nothing of the kind. How many thousands to save a cent, walk a mile! How

many to cut down expenses, cut off a thousand of the little "filling

ins" which go to make us both happy and healthy! Jones refused to let

his little boy run an errand for Johnson, and when Jones's house was in

a blaze, Johnson forbid him touching his water to put it out. Smith by

accident ran his wagon afoul of Peppers's cart, Peppers in revenge "cut

away" at Smith's horse; horse ran away, broke the wagon, dislocated

Smith's collar-bone; a suit at law followed, and Peppers being a mighty

spunky, as well as a powerfully mean man, fought it out four years, and

finally sunk every cent he had in the world by the slight transaction.

It is a first-rate idea to be economical, but the man who sees and

feels, and smells and tastes, entirely through his pocket-book, isn't

worth cultivating an acquaintance with. Go in, marry money if you can,

save up some, but don't cultivate meanness, for it never pays.