Buy Goods Worth The Price

"Is there something in life that you want very much? Then pay the price and take it,
but never expect to have a charge account and avoid paying the bills. Life is a
good collector and sooner or later the account must be paid in full."

Laura Ingalls Wilder

We were speaking of a woman in the community who was ignoring
the conventions, thereby bringing joy to the gossips' hearts and a shock
to those persons who always think first of what people will say.

"We'll of course," said my friend, "it is all perfectly harmless and she has the
satisfaction of doing as she pleases, but I'm wondering whether it's worth the price."

There are very few things in this world that we may not have if we are willing
to pay their price. You know it has been said that, "Every man has his price",
which may or may not be true, but without doubt nearly every other thing has its
market value and we may make our choice and buy. We must pay, in one way or
another, a greater or less amount for everything we have and sometimes
we show very poor judgment in our purchases.

Many a woman and girl has paid her good eyesight for a few pieces of hand
embroidery or her peace of mind for a new gown, while many a man's good health
or good standing in the community, goes to pay for his indulgence in a bad habit.

Is there something in life that you want very much? Then pay the price and take it,
but never expect to have a charge account and avoid paying the bills. Life is a
good collector and sooner or later the account must be paid in full.

I know a woman who is paying a debt of this kind on the installment plan.
She wanted to be a musician and so she turned her children into the streets
and neglected her husband that she might have more time for practice.
She already has paid too high a price for her musical education and the worst 
of it is that she will keep on paying the installments for the rest of her life.

There are persons who act as if the things life has to offer were on sale at an
auction and if someone else is likely to secure an article, they will raise their bid
without regard to the value of the goods on sale.  Indeed, the most of us are
like people at an auction sale in this respect, that during the excitement and
rivalry we buy many things we do not need, nor want, nor know just what 
 to do with, and we pay for them much more than they are worth.

Is it your ambition to outshine your neighbors and friends?  Then you are
the foolish bidder at the auction sale, raising your bid just because someone
else is bidding. I knew a man like this. He owned a motor car of the same size
and make of those of his friends had but decided he would buy a larger,
 more powerful, and much more expensive one. 

 His old car was good enough for all his needs, he said, but he was
 going to have a car that would be "better than the other fellow's".
 I suppose he figured the cost of the car in dollars and cents,
 but the real price he paid was his integrity and business honor,
and for bonus, an old and valued friendship. 

He had a very poor judgment as a buyer in my opinion.

Do you desire an education? No matter who pays the money for this, you
cannot have it unless you also pay with long hours of study and application.
Do you wish to be popular?  Then there is a chance to buy the real lasting
thing, which means to be well thought of and beloved by people worthwhile,
or a shoddy imitation, a cheap popularity of the "hail fellow well met"
sort, depending mostly on one's ability to tell a good story and the
amount one is able to spend on so-called pleasure.

As always, the best is the cheapest, for poor goods are dear at any price.
The square dealing, the kindness and consideration for others, the helpfulness
and love which we must spend if we wish lasting esteem enrich us in the paying,
besides bringing us what we so much desired.  

On the other hand, in buying a cheap popularity, people sometimes
  bankrupt themselves in things, the value of which cannot be estimated.
   If popular favor must be paid for the surrender of principles,
 or loss in character, then indeed the price is too high.

"Buy Goods Worth The Price"
Laura Ingalls Wilder
(1867-1957)
American writer and pioneer girl.
Author of the "Little House" series of books.
The above article was originally written 
 for her column in the Missouri Ruralist
between 1911-1918.