LESSON ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTH. The Babe. 'Twas on a cliff, whose rocky base Baffled the briny wave; Whose cultured heights their verdant store To many tenants gave. A mother, led by rustic cares, With what delight the mother glowed How oft would pause, amidst her toil, Yet soon, by other cares estranged, Cropped was each flower that caught his eye, 'Twas now the mother from her toil The urchin gone, her cheeks were flushed; Her wand'ring eye was wild! She saw him on the cliff's rude brink Now careless peeping o'er He turned, and to his mother smiled, Sunk was her voice, 't was vain to fly, To prompt the means to save! She tore the kerchief from her breast, LESSON ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH. The Young Tradesman. [The following Advice to a Young Tradesman was given by the celebrated Dr. Franklin.] Remember that time is money. He that can earn ten shillings a day by his labor, and yet goes abroad, or sits idle one half of that day, though he spends but sixpence during his diversion or idleness, ought not to reckon that the only expense; he has really spent, or rather thrown away, five shillings besides. Remember that credit is money. If a man lets his money lie in my hands after it is due, he gives me the interest, or so much as I can make of it during that time. This amounts to a considerable sum, where a man has good and large credit, and makes good use of it. Remember that money is of a prolific, generating nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more, and so on. Five shillings turned, is six; turned again, it is seven and threepence; and so on, till it becomes an hundred pounds. The more there is of it, the more it produces every turning; so that the profits rise quicker and quicker. He that kills a breeding animal, destroys all her offspring to the thousandth generation. He that murders a crown, destroys all that it might have produced, even scores of pounds. Remember that six pounds a year, is but a groat a day. For this little sum, (which may be daily wasted, either in time or expense, unperceived,) a man of credit may, on his own security, have the constant possession and use of a hundred pounds. So much in stock, briskly turned by an industrious mar, produces great advantage. Remember this saying, "the good paymaster is lord of another man's purse.' "" He that is known to pay punctually, and exactly to the time he promises, may, at any time, and on any occasion, raise all the money his friends can spare. This is sometimes of great use. After industry and frugality, nothing contributes more to the raising of a young man in the world, than punctuality and justice in all his dealings: therefore, never keep borrowed money an hour beyond the time you promised, lest a disappointment shut up your friend's purse forever. The most trifling actions that affect a man's credit, are to be regarded. The sound of your hammer at five in the morning, or nine at night, heard by a creditor, makes him easy six months longer: but, if he sees you at a billiard table, or hears your voice at a tavern, when you should be at work, he sends for his money the next day; demands it before he can receive it in a lump. It shows, besides, that you are mindful of what you owe; it makes you appear a careful, as well as an honest man, and that still increases your credit. Beware of thinking all your own that you possess, and of living accordingly. It is a mistake that many people who have credit fall into. To prevent this, keep an exact account, for some time, both of your expenses and your income. If you take the pains at first to mention particulars, it will have this good effect; you will discover how wonderfully small trifling expenses mount up to large sums, and will discern what might have been, and may for the future be saved, without occasioning any great inconvenience. In short, the way to wealth, if you desire it, is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality; that is, waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality, nothing will do, and with them, every thing. He that gets all he can honestly, and saves all he gets, (necessary expenses excepted,) will certainly become rich-if that Being who governs the world, to whom all should look for a blessing on their honest endeavors, doth not, in his wise providence, otherwise determine. I was Dr. Franklin says, in his own life, in order to insure my credit and character as a tradesman, I took care, not only to be really industrious and frugal, but also to avoid every appearance of the contrary. plainly dressed, and never seen in any place of public amusement. I never went a fishing or hunting: a book, indeed, enticed me sometimes from my work, but it was seldom, by stealth, and occasioned no scandal; and, to show that I did not think myself above my profession, I conveyed home, sometimes in a wheelbarrow, the paper I purchased at the warehouses. I thus obtained the reputation of being an industrious young man, and very punctual in my payments. The merchants who imported articles of stationary, solicited my custom; others offered to furnish me with books; and my little trade went on prosperously. LESSON ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH. The Seasons moralized. Behold the changes of the skies, Winter, late, with dreary reign, Sorrow cast her sadness round, Now cast around thy raptured eyes, Hark, hark, the joy inspiring grove Such the scenes our life displays, Sullen death, with mournful gloom, But the soul, in gayest bloom, Youth, and peace, and beauty there |