Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-07-09
AN BOY.

AA0 4AOAC6Gy &Hu DCVOt1On 10
business.
Last week, in Philadelphia, Pa, the
semi-centennial anniversary Of the en-
trance of Mr.. Edward o. Knight into
business was celebrated. Mr. Knight
began his business career as m errand
boy, on a salary of two dollars per
week, and saved something every
week, and while still a very young man
opened a grocery store with a capital
of two hundred dollars saved from his
earnings. Two things, certainly, Me-
Knight did as a boy. He kept his eyes
open, and learned every thing hs
possibly could learn aboutthe business;
be did not waste any money. 1t is not
at all probable that he bought cigar
cites, or owned innumerable neckties.
or wore large brass rings or pins, OF
drank many glasses of soda water.
Another thing. It is not at alflikely
that he got to the Office five to fifteen!
minutes late three mornings in the
week, or just got inside the door every
morning at the last possible minute. He
was there on time, and had risen early
enough in the morning to reach busi-
ness neatly and carefully dressed, and
ready to commence the duties at once
1t is not at all likely that he watched
the face OF the clock the last half-hour
OF the day, doing the work that came
to him in a half-hearted spirit, or as a
boy OF eighteen, a stock clerk, did to
the writer during the last week. The
large store where he is employed
closes at six p. N. A customer hur-
ried in to purchase goods. to match
some purchased a week before. The
stock clerk was asked by the salesman
for the goods, and answered in the
most %nonchalant manner: 'All gone.',,
What! why, there was. q roll of ii
yesterday" CAL sold.n But the
salesman hurried along the line of
goods three or four times, saying, in a
puzzling tone: "1t's very strange"
The stock clerk said nothing, but
stood frowning at the clock. "Why.
yes, of course, here it Isl" and the
salesman tumbled a large roll to the
floor. A flush of shame passed over
the stock clerks face, and he turned
his back. He knew he had stolen
nearly fifteen minutes of his employ
er's time, and wasted that much of the
customers, rather than disturb the
stock, which was in good order. That
young man will be a clerk all his life.
He does not attend to business in q,
business-like spirit. .
Another thing: MI. Knight never rea-
soned in this way: s.I'm not going to
kill myself. He only pays me two dol
lars a week. l am not going to kill
myself for that. If he wants, me to-
work harder just let him pay me more
money" Foolish boy! Do you suppose
that a boy who does two dollars worth
of work is going to be paid three dol
lars for doing it? Not When you want
three dollars a week, do five dollars
worth of work. Remember that your
employer expects to make a profit ON
your labor. He buys your time, and
every minute Of the working hours be-
longs to him.
Another thing: When Nj. Knight
was a boy, he must have watched the
business methods about him, and re-
ceived many valuable hints that en-
iabled him to transact his own business
in~telligently. If boys would only re-
member that their entrance into bust
ness is an entrance into q new school,
they would learn very much more than
they do.
Mr.. Knight says: Il cautioned my
clerks to give good weight, and 1 always
represented goods as they were. Honor
is indispensable in mercantile life. :.
In fifty years ! have signed every note
sent out by this house." Honesty and
devction to business-two indispen-
sable foundation stones to o successful
business life.
To-day Mr.. Knight is rated among
the m%illionaires of Philadelphia Re-
member, he began as a poor boy on a
salary Of two dollars per week. Chris
tan NtSon.