Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-11-14
O.v FOLLOIb.E.VG UP.

The Riverside Bulletin does not often
deal in wise saws and modern or ancient
Instances; but here, from the October is
sue, is a brief, practical sermon, pithy and
pointed, and to be needed in every vocation
and all pursuits:
There are few people who can 90 through
the world without being confronted by
cautionary signals of one kind or another.
Dangerous passing" is written over unac-
cepted streets in Boston, and mo admit
ance except on business" is the frowning
announcement over good many doorways.
If one enters public library, placards alb
ruptly tell him TO "Take his hat off and
step lightly" while the moment he under
takes 10 transact any little business in q
countingroom he is made nervous by APP
othecary pills of advice from DR.. Franklin,
all conveying in the general maxms,
"Mind your own business, and let me
mind mine" "Get out of the office quick"
Don't speak to the man that's adding
column "If the drawer sticks pull even
ly," "Set your wood. cut blocks on end"
"Never get out of sorts suddenly" and
the like. 1t is the easiest thing in the world
to make proverbs; we could fill the "Bul-
letin" with new saws that would cut with
as Jagged teeth as old ones. The world of
business, in fact, is always rolling its little
paper wads and firing them at passers by,
but we doubt if there are any three words
which cmbody 81 much stern wisdom as
those which every business man is called
upon 10 utter 10 his subordinaies or associ-
ates, Follow it up" They are in the air
o constantly that there is no need TO shout
them from placards or letters Of gold. The
sum OF rule. for success is contained in
them. How many an ardent beginner in
n profession or business, who started on a
full run, has come limping in after his
fellows because he could not follow it up.
How many capital piece of game has been
lost because the hunter who beat the bush
had forgotten TO load his gun, and so could
not follow it up. How many servant has
loitercd by the way because his master,
having sent him on an errand, did not fol-
low him up.
A merchant who had built large bust
ness by judicious advertising, told the edit
or once that lie had system of despatching
circulars by messengers to the houses of
possible customers. "But how" asked the
editor, could you be sure that your mes
sengers delivered them ?" "Oh, l sent n
man to watch them" "And then you
watched him?" Eyes" He was follow
er-up. This indeed touches upon the spe-
cial weakness of organizations, otherwise
we'll planned and meant to run well. The
chief gives an order 10 his subordinate, who
executes it through other agents. Now
there are few persons removed two degrees
from the one actually fulfilling an order,
who do not temporarily lose sight of it,.
They do not follow it up in mind and re-
main uneasy until it comes back in the
shape Of trustworthy report as complete
and fulfilled. 1t is so easy to give an order
and regard the thing as then done. 1t Is
like Mr.. Micawber's method of paying his
debts by giving notes, for which he had
made no provision. The army system of
punctual reports is requisite in every large
establishment; but in every establishment,
large or small, the essential thing is that
the person in charge should know, in some
way or other, that an order is carried out,
and should follow every order 10 its execu-
ton. The motto is equally applicable to
the conduct of any enterprise. Unless it
DO followed up, the positions gained held
securely and new adva noes made, the i'm
mediate success soon becomes worthless.
The man In the parable who had his one
pound was so far well off, but because he
did not follow it up, he never got to be ru-
Ter over even one little city. And as we
seem gradually dropping, not into poetry
but preaching, finally, brethren, observe
the significance of the word "up." "Fol-
low it up" is the text, because every per-
sistent pursuit leads one to higher vantage
ground. No man who ever faithfully fol-
lowed his work, found he was following it
down.