Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-09-30
Principle and Industry.


tat ons to moral obliquity and practical dis
honesty are so strong as TO require great
watchlulness on the part of the tempted to re-
sst the allurements. Many have fallen. Many
probably will hereafter fail, who would have
stood firn, had they acted on principle There
IS no gudngstar like principle for a Young
man TO keep his eye on, while so many dolefuI
meteors are dancing before his vision Principle
may have often TO contend with formidable
difficulties, aud must frequently practice self
denial But great is its reward. Dexterity
and deception may go around difficulties, or
conceal them from view. bnt nothing is gained
thereoy, not even the comfort Of having strivcn
well and of being iuvigorated in the process.
Inherited wealth is not desirable TO our Young
men who 20 into business. The poorest young
man should lot be discouraged. We know
such an one, whose father was an Indifferent
conntryman, taking little interest in the moral
and intellectual progress of his children, and
barely provided for their bodily wants His
son, q lad OF fourteen or fifteen, was seized with
a desire Of being something But he wore
patched clothes, knew nothing of the world
had no apparent recommendation but his pov-
erty and grecIn So Really however. he had
principle and industry. These were led on bv
resolution, and these scarcely developed at.
tributes were better TO the youth than q "for-
tune" He resolved To try his hand in a com.
mercial city, started on foot with his pack
and walked a hundred and fifty miles to - find
work "a thing almost always 10 he found in
this happy country, The boy On arriving in
this city, hrst directed his steps TO the house
OF citizen, who had some acquaintance with
his father, or his fathers friends The gentle
man was astonshed at his telnerty Finding
him without letter Of accommodation, without
any specihc plan, with little prospect of being
acceptable TO any one in the city, wearing. as
D. did, patched pantaoons, he WAS aIont to ad.
wise him TO return home, but thought he would
at least make the trial for place According
ly he started out, and inquired from shop to
shop, but no one wanted the boy AT last. O
common grocer consented to take him, to do
menial jobs about the store--to carry water
and the like. The boy entered upon his duties.
humble as they were, with aIacrlty and hope.
He summoned to his support principle aud
industry. What he did he did well, and he
WAS content with his condition, till broader
field should he opened. He was honest and
active, Studious OF usefulness, ingenious in pro.
noting the interests Of his employer in various
humble ways-ia word, filing the owly
sphere he occupied, as one who is " faithful in
a little" This Was the secret of his success.
He was observed, and invited TO a somewhat
better situation This he felt it his duty 10
strive TO fill still better, and he succeeded -
He began to be in demand for business of a
superior kind 1t was found that he was ca
pable OF serving the dry goods dealer with skill
and success.
All his patches had disappeared, Though
he kept them privately, i'll remembrance of his
poor mother y he was engaged about neat
work he made himself pleasant to customers.
aud profitable to employers lie scorned the
habits whchhave ruined SO many clerks drank
no liquors of any kind /; visited no places OF
play; kept no guilty secrets; sought his female
company openly among the pure and virsuous
of the sex. and ut to church on the Sabbath.
de began with principle, and principle grew
into habit. He was sober, active, industrious.
Tie could not conceal, though he sought not
to display, his silent qualities. Men in solid
aud extensive business made him large offers,
aud noted firm even sought him in partner
ship. We need scarcely add that the poor
boy, now grown and married man, is among
the weathlest in one of our commercial cities,
and more than this, really useful citizen AS
he adhered to principles, his principles have
exalted aud promoted him. As he +" welded
the hand of the dgent," it hath made him
rich" in a sense beyond that of silver aud gold
LIT our young men ponder this example
HINTS Merchants " Fa-ine.