Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-06-14
From the Desk Of Poor Robert, the Scribe
TAKE TIME BY THE FORETOP.

TAKE TIME BY THE FORETOP.
Old grandfather Time, so lar as l have
seen him pictured in all the editions OF the
New. England primer, is as bald as cob.
ler's lapstone. The text cannot therefore
be taken literally. To make you under
stand 1t Alright, and it is full Of wisdom, is
my present purpose. Gentle reader, to
take time by the foresop," means nothing
less than to do your business in season.
Are you mechanic enter on your day
book every thing you let SO on credit at
the moment you dispose OF it /; never put
1t off till another time (; the memory Is
treacherous and you may forget the num-
Der or the price. Post your books every
Saturday. Look frequcntiy at your &C
counts. He who looks 1t his books often,
understands his accounts, and always turns
them with pleasure !; while the man who
only posts his books but once year, and
turns to them but seldom, always does 1t
with reluctance he hates to settle an &C.
count and had rather lose few cents than
draw off the bill and he loses the worth
OF good COW in the year, BY his Incidence.
mentioned cents. They are little things:
but recollect what old Robert says many
a mickle makes muckle" cents make dol
lars: grains Of wheat, though little things,
make thousands oi bushels. Take care
OF the cents and the dollars will take care OF
themselves" Go in debt az little posi-
bic, and never for things not absolutely ne
cesssry. Keep debt and credit, you can
tell how you stand with the world. Settle
oF.>. ifh
every body; if you cannot get the balance
due you, take notes on interest. Keep this
number of old Robert and cad it once in
while. Now the man who would pursue
this advice, will not only do his business
with ten times more ease to himself and
customers, but he will save enough to
elothe his children and send them to school.
Are you farmer; IT is particularly ne
cessary that you should stake time by the
toretoP." The whole profits of the farm
depend on his business being done in sea-
SON. Ii a week gets the start of you in the
spring YOU may chase it all summer without
overtsking it.
Why, there's neighbour Scrabble; he
has good farm, and is hard working,
frugal man nevertheless he is always be-
hind hand. He plants his own corn when
all his neighbours are wedding theirs. Itgets
hoed but once, because harvest presses hard
upon hio--the early frosts generally kill
halt what the weeds don't choke; and the
sequence is, off of an acre which ought
10 yield him so bushels, he gets but Is or
20. Come Mr.. Scrabble pull up; overtake
time tor once; get your crops in we'll, and
In season, and your labour will he easier by
half and twice as profitable.
When was last at Applebury, went to
see my old acquaintance, Mira. Mobcap;-
though very clever woman, she never ye,
learned to "take time by the foretop.'
The consequence was, her kitchen looked as
though it was slut's holy day. The hearth
was covered with pots, the sink full Of dish
cs, the dog was ,unnin9 away with the dish
cloth, and madam in full pursuit with the
broomstick, Glanced to step on mashed Pc
tatoe, up f-w her heels, and | do be
lleve on my honour she would have shewr
her garters, but she had just pulled them OF
10 tie the broken dasher of the churn toge
Their. When her ladyship had adjusted he
dress, she made a thousand excuses TO
looking all at SKIES and sevens, but reall,
she had got a little behind her work: t.
make amends the good woman seized he
broom, and was glad to retreat from be
ing buried in the dust. Ladies, listen t.
old Robert. Whatever is worth doing a
all, is worth doing we'll. Do one thing at
time, and finish what you begin. Kee
your kitchens as neat as your parlours
BE regular in your domestic duties. Al
ways wash on Mondays, and for the cred
sfyour daughters, ityou have to rise b