A Timely Word on Debt from C. H. Spurgeon

Debt Part 1

Debt
C. H. Spurgeon
From John Ploughmans Talk

WHEN I WAS A VERY SMALL BOY, and went to a woman's school, it so happened that I wanted a slate pencil, and had no money to buy it. I was afraid of being scolded for losing my pencils so often, for I was real careless, and so did not dare to ask at home; what then was John to do? There was a little shop where nuts, and tops, and cakes, and balls were sold by old Mrs. Dearson. Sometimes I had seen boys and girls trusted by the old lady. I argued with myself that Christmas was coming, and that somebody or other would be sure to give me a penny then. I would, therefore, go into debt for a slate pencil, and be sure to pay at Christmas. I did not feel easy about it, but still I screwed my courage up and went into the shop. As I had never owed anything before, and my credit was good, the pencil was handed over by the kind dame, and I was in debt. It did not please me much, and I felt as if I had done wrong, but I little knew how soon I should smart for it. How my father heard of this little stroke of business I never knew, but some little bird or other whistled it to him, and he was very soon down upon me in earnest. God bless him for it; he was a sensible man, and none of your children spoilers. He did not intend to bring up his children to speculate, and play at what big men call financing, and therefore he knocked my getting into debt on the head at once. He gave me a very powerful lecture upon getting into debt, and how like it was to stealing; upon the way in which people were ruined by it; how a boy who would owe a little, might one day owe much, and get into prison, and bring his family into disgrace. It was a lecture, indeed. Then I was marched off to the shop like a deserter marched into barracks, crying bitterly as I went, and feeling dreadfully ashamed, because I thought everybody knew I was in debt. The money was paid amid many solemn warnings, and the poor debtor was set free, like a bird let out of a cage. How sweet it felt to be out of debt! How did my little heart vow and declare that nothing should ever tempt me into debt again! It was a fine lesson, and I have never forgotten it. If all boys were inoculated with the same doctrine when they were young, it would be as good as a fortune to them, and save them loads of trouble in after life. God bless my father, say I, and send such fathers to save us from being eaten up with villainy.