Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-01-31

"lh she first place take this for your
motto at the beginning of your journey,
that the Offence Of going just right and a
little wrong, will be the difference sof fin
ding yourself lin good quarters, or in n
miserable bog or slaugh at the end oil it.
Of the whole number educated in the
Groton stores for some years before and
after myself, no one else, escaped the bog
or slaugh; and my escape .trace to the
single fact OF my Having put a restfaiht
upon my appetite. After leaving school
and going into a store, not month passed
before was impressed with the opinion
that restraint upon appetite was necessary
to prevent the slavery saw destroying
numbers around ne. Many and many o
the farmers, mechanics, and apprentices oil
that day have filled drunkard's graves, and
left destitute families and friends.",
Let every clerk and apprentice who
reads this, and hope there will be many
stop and note this point-the difference oI
going just right, or a little wrong, in your
setting out in life. is the difference Se-
tween integrity and dishonesty, success or
di appointment, happiness and ruin.
At twenty-one, in 1907, Amos went to
Boston with thirty dollars in his pocket -
He soon received an offer Of a clerkship
in a respectable firm. Here he stayed but
few months. His employers failed, and
he hired small store in Cornhill, and fur
nshed it with goods upon the strength OF
the confidence with which he had inspired,
merchants who had become acquainted
with him. Integrity, industry and system,
were the foundations upon which his busi-
ness life was built. He practiced rigid e.
economy, never allowing himself to spend a
fourpence upon unnecessary objects until
he had earned it. During his first seven
years in the city, he never let bill stand
against him unsettled over the Sabbath
If the purchase of goods had been made at
auction on Saturday, he always examined
and settled the bill note or by .,credting it
so that in case he was not on duty ON Mon
day, there would be no trouble for the clerks;
thus keeping business before him, instead OF
allowing it to drive him. At the close OF
that seven years, he was wort h ffity thousand
dollars.
On his first coming TO the city, he took his
lodgings with widow, who had just opened
clearinghouse. Amos asked FOR one rule
to be made for the boarders. and that was
that the boarders in the public setting room
might keep quiet for one hour after supper
in order to give those who wished it an op.
por'unity for study or reading. "The con.
sequence was," said he in after years, "that
we had the most quiet and improving set in
town. The few who did not wish to comply
with the regulation, went about after tea
sometimes tothe theatre, sometimes to other
places, but to man, become bankrupt in
after life, not only in fortune but in reputa-
tion; while the majority Of tho other clerks
sustained good character, and some are
now living who are ornaments to society,
and fill important stations. The Influence
Of this small number will perhaps be felt
throughout generations. 1t was not less
favorable on myself than on others.
Such were the principles on which was
reared young man who afterwards became
one of the princely merchants of Boston,prin
eely IN wealth, virtues, and benevolence-
Amos LAWRENCE who gave in charity, more
than six hundred thousand dollars, and tn,
legacy of whose life is part Of the world.
true riches. Young men, study them well
II n