Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-06-04
From the Independent
The First Thousand Dollars.
BY REV. SAMUEL T. SPEAR, d. d.

The first thousand dollars that young
man, after going out into the world to act
for himself, earns and SareS will generally
settle the question of business life with
him. There may be exceptions to this
statement; yet, for rule, we think that
it will hold true.
The first condition is that the young
man actually earns the thousand dollars
in question. He does not inherit this sum.
1t does not come to him by streak OF
good luck, rs the result of a fortunate e
venture in the purchase and sale ola hun
dred shares of stock. 1t is the fruit OF
personal industry. He gives his time and
his labor for it. While he is thus earn
ing and saving it, he must earn two or
three, or perhaps four times rs much to
pay his current expenses. lie is conse'
quently held sternly to the task of indus
try for very considerable period. The
direct consequence to him Is n steady,
continuous. and solid discipline in the
habits of industry, in patient, persistent
forecasting and self-denying effort, break
ing up all the tendencies toindolence and
frivolity, and making him an earnest and
watchful economist OF time. lie not only
learns how TO work, but he also acquires
the love of work; and, moreover. he
learns the value of the SUN whicn he has
thus saved out of his earnings. lie has
toiled for il; he has observed its slow in
crease from time to time; and in his es-
innate it represents SO many months or
wears of practical labor. His ideas OF life
are shaped by his own experience.
These natural effects Of earning the
first thousand dollars we hold to be very
large in benefits. They are just the quail
ties of mind and body which are most
likely to secure business success in after
years. They constitute the practical ed
ucation which man can have as a Worker
in this working world. They are gained
in season for life's purposes; at the open
ing period, just when they are wanted,
when foolish notions are most likely to
mislead an inexperienced brain, and when
too, there is a full opportunity for their
expansion and development in later years.
Men have but one life to live ; and. hence
thew start from opening manhood but
once. And the manner in which they
start, the principles with which they start,
the purposes they have in view, and the
habits they form, will ordinarily deter
mine the entire sequel Of their career on
earth. To succeed, man must have the
elements of success tn themselves. One
great reason why there are so many use
less, inefficient, and poverty-stricken men
on earth or rather boys seeming to be men
consists in the simple fact that they
did not start right. A prominent reason
why the children of the rich so frequently
amount to nothing may be found in the
luxury, ease, and Incidence which marked
the commencement of their lives. 1t is
the law of God that we should be ,corters
on earth; and no one so well consults the
best development of his being as when
he conforms his practice to this law. The
workers in some suitable sphere are the
only really strong men in this world.
The other condition Of the statement is
that the thousand dollars should be sared
as an actual surplus beyond daily con-
sumption. He who spends all he earns
is always poor. He never has dollar