The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-09-11
FEsTINA LENTE.
BY s, d.


Two men sat in the private Office of
one of our largest dry goods houses,
holding lorg and confidential conversa-
tion.
"There is no use talking, Will, my
mind is made up," exclaimed the younger
of the two. II am not going to be
plodding along in this hum-drum style.
Why, man, this is the way my grand
father lived and acted; always keeping
that careful little piece of Poor Richard
wisdom directly in his mind, Take care
of the pence, and the pounds will take
care of themselves"
.Did not your grandfather live to q
good old age, and leave q handsome
property behind him for his heirs?"
Yes. L must say the rule worked
very we'll with him; yet he denied him
self many pleasures, that mean to
enjoy, and toiled his life long, for the
few thousands, of which he died pos
sessed. I tell you, Will, that sort of
here-a-little and there-a.l little doctrine,
has passed away for people who are up
to snuff. And to think that have been
living thus for thirty-fve years, puts me
out OF patience with myself,
Well, 1 have lived 80 for forty years,
and expect to continue the same habits
to the end; never doubling but that
shall make comfortable support"
"You astonish me, Will; man of
your business capacity and facilities to
talk as you do. I wish to God I could
command your means; I'd not talk of
comfortable support nothing saort of
absolute independence would satisfy me.
II had your facilities, in less than
five years I wouldn't give snap for any
mans favor"
ri am curious to know, Ralph" said
the elder gentleman, show you would go
about achieving 30 sudden an independ-
ence. Give me few points, and if
can avail myself of them, perhaps I
may turn out John Jacob Astor my
self some day. Who knows?"
'I see you are disposed to snnb my
utility. You doubtless pity me, Will:
and, from my heart, I am sure pity
you, throwing away such opportunities
as you have. Why, my friend, don't
you see that everything is changed?
This is no more the same world we lived
In ten years ago, than if God had re-
moulded the entiro fabric. Then, n
careful, laborious policy was just as ne
cessary to success as q bolder line of
action is now. Then, it was labor; now,
it is speculation. You know that thou
sand of fortunes are won and lost in
day."
Then the aggregate of wealth re-
mains the same, and why should not
you and l be the losing ones?"
because we would be sharp enough
to take care Of ourselves"
"We might encounter those who would
be equally sharp, or perhaps, sharper"
81 don't fear it, replied Ralph, com
placently; IT don't think I fatter nv
self, when say I am abundantly able to
take care of No. l, and mean to do it.
No half measures for me. In these days.
Fortune bestows her favors with a libe-
raj hand on those who have the courage
to strive for them, and the tact and per-
severance not to heed her when she says
mo- For my own part, shall forthwith
pay court to her with such assured auda-
city. that for very shame, she cannot hat
smile on mo-"
Ralph arose and took his hat, prepara-
tory to leaving, but he could not forbear
one more essay to move his cautious
friend.
'Think it over, Will: give what have
said your unbiased consideration, and I
am almost certain you will join me. Tho
risk is very little-nay, think there is