The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-09-25
mi j 8 G eIlaneous |.
A BAD HABIT.

AheSSui w dllSi, you are tlOlUp very
wrong to delay so much in your business"
said Mrs. Apologize to her husband, one
morning, as they sat later than usual over
the breakfast table.
81 know it's bad habit, my DEAR" said
Mr. Apologize, "but, then, it doesn't hurt
any one but myself, and can afford it,"
"You can afford it, Walter 2" exclaimed
his wife in establishment. GLOW you talk
this morning Surely, you do not know
what you are saying"
81 assure you do" said her husband,
laughing, 81 am perfectly wide-awake and l
know what am saying"
"Indeed you are doing wrong" persisted
his wife. "You promised to meet Mr.. GAY
at your office this morning at nine o'clock,
and if you do not start at once you will not
be able to get there in time"
"Well, then, Mr.. Gay can wait for few
minutes" said her husband, balancing his
spoon on his coffee-cup, and looking at her
with smile. "He can afford to wait
awhile for me as the matter he wished to
arrange to-day is entirely to his advantage"
"Still it is wrong to make him wait if
you can avoid it. He has his business to
attend to, and after all may not have as
much time to spare as you think he has,
Besides this, if you delay too much in your
business affairs, you will lose the confidence
of your friends, and you will be sure to
suffer by it."
"You ought to have been man, Jennie"
said her husband laughing. s'Yon would
have made splendid merchant. However,
to please you I'll go down at once.n
So saying Mr.. Apologize rose from the
table, and in few minutes was on his way
to his place. of business. But he did not
reach it promptly. Meeting friend in the
street. he stopped to talk with him on some
unimportant matter and when he started
again for his office it was nearly halfpas
nine. He reached his place of business
three-quarters of an hour later than he had
promised to be there, and found Mr.. Gay
waiting for him with great impotence.
Good morning, Mr.. Gay" he said as he
entered. Il hope | have not kept you
waiting"
81 am sorry to say you have" replied Mr..
Gay. ~ have q great deal before me to-
day, and cannot well afford to lose mo-
ment."
Mr.. Applegate's conscience smote him,
but he said, lightly, "Really, 1 am sorry,
but could not help it. was detained on
my way longer than had anticipated"
The business between them was soon
transacted; and Mr.. Gay took his depart
ure with very poor opinion of Mr.. APP
plegate's habits of punctuality, which trait
is, after all, in merchant, cardinal vir-
tue.
Mr.. Apologize was young man, and had
not long been in business for himself; but
ho had been more than usually successful
in his transactions, and had fairly laid q
foundation for what promised to be lu-
crative and extensive business. He had
one great fault to contend against, however
He was extremely careless and was apt to
delay too much. He took but little trouble
on interest, and was too neglectful, even OF
matters of importance. 1t was his princi.
pie never to do to-day what can be done as
we'll tomorrow; and the habits which he
had formed in his early youth grew upon
him every year. His wife demonstrated
with him frequently, but to no effect Mr..
| Applegate had not yet seen the evil of his
way, and was too careless to attempt to
change it. He had not experienced any
inconvenience from it, and he laughed ut
his wifc's fears as the effect of her inexpe-
riencc and overcaution.
W
lated above, that Mr.. Applegatc had occa.
sion to see the justice and force of his wifc's
| views.
In the course of his business an opportu-
nifty was presented to him of making an
unusual speculation. A lot of goods were
offered for sale at low figure to any ono
who would take them all at cash payment
The sum demanded was q large one for
him to raise in twenty-four hours, the time
given him; but one that he could have
raised in week or ten days without much
inconvenience. Still the transaction seem.
ed to offer so many advantages that he de.
termined to make the effort.
Among his friends was merchant o.
great prominence, who had taken decided
Interest in Mr.. Apologize at the beginning
| of that gentleman's career, and had fire.
ouently offered to assist him if it should
ever be in his power to do so. Hitherto
the young merchant had RETAINED from
asking any assistance from Mr.. King, as
his friend was named but now he deter
mined to avail himself of his friends offer
He accordingly called upon Mr.. King, and
after laying the matter before him, asked
him to lend him the amount for ten days.
II am perfectly willing to lend the
amount" said Mr.. King, "if you are SURE
of returning it within the time named.
think you have an opportunity of making
handsome speculation in this matter; but
l would like to have the money by the
twentieth, as have a heavy bill to meet
on the twenty second.
Mr.. Apologize assured him there would
be no difficulty in the matter, and added
that it was probable that he might be able