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men's business than anything else we know of. The man 

 who gives credit, suffers often times beyond recovery; and 

 the man who accepts credit, suffers quite as much. Any 

 man's money is better than an account against him, 

 especially if the account be a small one; and whoever 

 asks and obtains long credit has to pay dearly for the 

 accommodation and risk. The argument that many men 

 use, "I will buy the thing I want to-day, and pay for it 

 when money is easier," ruins lots of men. The "easier 

 times" never come, and if they do, when he settles the 

 bill, he has to pay interest enough to make it burdensome. 

 He has also to pay the bills of many who do not pay at all. 

 Let it then be the rule, and that without exception, to 

 send us money with every order, it will save time, trouble 

 and delay. 



One of the most potent arguments we have against the 

 practice of sending orders not accompanied with the 

 money, is the increase of labor it renders necessary. It 

 adds materially to our correspondence, which is already a 

 burdensome and arduous duty. 



The number of letters written from the agency during 

 the ten months past, is 6,812; that of letters received, 

 5,409, and the circulars mailed, reach the figure of 11.731. 



Before closing this report, permit me to present an 

 article from the pen of Bro. D. Wyatt Aiken, Chairman of 

 the Executive Committee of the National Grange, which 

 presents in a most forcible manner, sound, common sense 

 views of our business matters, and in every way applicable 

 north as well as south, east as well as west: 



''We have seen," says he, "that the very germ of the 

 Order of the Patrons of Husbandry was self-hdp — ro create 

 a mutual obligation amongst farmers, so that each, being 

 fraternally disposed to assist his neighbor, would of neces- 

 sity acquire the habit of benefiting himself, not at the 

 expense of others, but simply because of that active habit 

 acquired of aiding his fellows. 



"We know that in this material age the masses, who, 



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