A wag has declared that there is one borrower set down in every
neighborhood; that she either “leavens the whole lump” (being of
the fomenting class) or speedily moves away. But he is mistaken;
sometimes the borrower gets converted. Here is the way one woman
managed it:
“Ma wants to know if you will loan her a cup of sugar?” asks
Mrs. B.’s little girl.
“Why, certainly! But be sure to tell her not to return it,” was
the cheerful response of Mrs. Neighbor.
The next day the child reappeared with the sugar, but she was
promptly sent home with it. Mrs. N. was “glad to let her have
it, and it was too small a matter to be repaid.”
This caused Mrs. Borrower to gasp and to wait a while before
despatching the child for a cup of lard. This was given also,
and when no return was allowed Mrs. B. realized the situation
and was too proud to ask for further loans. She resented
her neighbor’s attitude, but her mouth was shut, especially
as Mrs. N. continued as friendly as ever when they met. The
result was that she was simply forced to exercise a little more
head-work thereafter in her household affairs, ordering supplies
sufficiently in advance of her needs, and soon she had broken
herself of the borrowing habit.--LEE MCCRAE, _Zion’s
Advocate_.
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