The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-12-03


expense book when he was boy. and
he never thought about keeping one
when ne became man. Why should
he? Is not the boy father of the
man?n
Whether the young student OF
whom we have spoken, was faithful
to keep an account of his expenses or
not. we know of one boy who was.
His parents required him to keep an
expense book, before he was old
enough to go away TO school. When
he left home for the academy, his
father allowed him fifty cents month
for pocket money. With this he could
do as he pleased. But his expense
book set him to thinking. 1t would
look better if it should show a bal
ance in favor of his pocket from
month TO month.
The thought decided his course. and
he spent but twenty-five cents "a month,
thus saving One-half of his allowance.
The expense book did it. The whole
would have gone but for that accurate
account. He became noble, aifiuent
man, and often said that the expense
book of his bOyhOod contributed large
ly 10 make him what he was.
The expense book has often estab-
lished the habit of economy, which
has proven the foundation of a fortune.
On the other hand ncglectiDg TO note
the method of spending money in early
life has led to improvideuce and want.
1.-The ship which bore home the mer-
chants treasure was lost because it
was allowed TO leave the port from
which it sailed with very little hole
in the bottom" A small leak will
sink ship" The expense book may
stop the small leaks.
For want of nail the shoe of the
aide-de-canp's horse was lost; for
want of the shoe the horse was lost;
for want Of the shoe the aide-de-camp
himself was lost. for the enemy took
him and killed him; and for want of
the aide-de-camp's intelligence. the
army of his General was lost And all
because little nail not been properly
fixed in horses shoe"
A good illustration of the manner in
which an evil habit of youth. though
small in itself. may grow and curse the
whole future life.
So far as money is concerned, the
expense book is designed TO guard
against such a result.
Amos Lawrence presented TO one of
his sons on his twentieth birthday an
expense book. with the following writ
ten on the first page:
MY DEAR Son: 1 give you this little book
that you may write In 1t how much money you
receive and how you use it, i. Is OF much i'm
portsnce IN forming your early character. TO
have correct habits and a strict regard TO truth
in all you do. For this purpose advise you
never TO cheat yourself by making false entry
in this book II you spend money for an object
you would not willingly have known, you viii
be more likely 70 avoid doing the same thing
again, II you call IL by its right name here. re-
Numbering always that there is One who can
not be deceived. 1 pray God so 10 guide and
direct you that when your stewardship here is
ended He may say 10 You that the talents en-
trusted 10 your care have been faithfully en-
ployed- Your aiectiOnate father, A. l.
In 1922, Lawrence wrote to the
father OF a boy who came from Con-
necticut to serve in his store: will it
not be well for him TO furnish you at
stated periods an exact account of his
expenditures? The habit of keeping
such an account will be serviceable
nd i he 90
will be great ten years hence, in look
ing back and observing the process
by which his character has been
formed"
Joseph Baxendale, one of England's
most successful merchants. was well
known for his practical wisdom and
the good influence he exerted over his
employees. He saw every day the
evils of wasteful habits in early life,
extending into manhood and woman
hood: and he sought to accomplish by
placards what the expense hook might
have done in boyhood and girlhOod.
He posted up notices in his ware
houses like the following: "A Penny
Saved Is "a Penny Earned" "He Who
Spends All He Gets Is On the Way to
Beggary." Time Lost Can Not Be
Regaincd." Let Industry and Econo-
my BE the Habits OF Your Lives"
Lay BY Something For Rainy Day"
These notices were reminders and
teachers to his work-people. as the
expense book reminds and teaches a
boy or girl. They reformed the habits
of some employees by causing them to
reflect Getting a good idea into their
heads from one of them, changed the
current of their lives.
The expense book is an idea, and it
suggests an idea to the owner Nor is
it an ephemeral idea 1t takes pos
session of the mind for life. 1t comes
to stay. 1t speaks of character. how
oil =, Il