South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-06-12
SLOW AMI SURE.

city merchant, had in his employ two
nephews..who had every opportunity
OF Studying in the counting room the
secret OF successful bu siness career.
These were John Warren and Stephen
Grey. Both attained the age of 25
the same year. and both on the first
OF May were summoned into Mr..
Lingards presence. lie thus ad-
dressed them:
You have been in my employ
eight years; you know how my busi-
ness ls conducted, aud consider you
competent to manage a business of
your own. Though I should be glad
to retain you longer as clerks, I will
not stand in the way of your aiyanc.
ment. l have placed to the credit OF
each OF you, at my bankers the sum
OF $4,000. This will SUPPLY you with
q lsufiicient basis for embarking 10
business. With economy in your
personal expenses, and pruier, and
Judlcious management you will sue
coed. Success to youf
This was long speech for the old
merchant. yet after moments pause
he added:
l have ono thing moro to say
This is all l purpo'e TO do for you
You have FIVE times the capital
started With, aad with it you mus Al
sink or swim. You have my bes,
hopes and wishes, but need look 10,
NJ further pecuniary aid.
/ His nephess thanked him heartily
anil at once took measures to 60 intC
business. John Warren secu~ ed 9
modest shop at q moderate rent, and
determined to do business on q cAsI
basis. contentjng himself with such &
stock as hts own stock would buy
He made his purchases iudiciousI,
and overlooked every detail OF hi
business personally.
Stephen Gray bad lager ideas
He hired shop at three times tbt
rent, pushed his credit 10 the utmost
and made q great show at the outset
Both young men we're engaged
and both so oD married. Here, again
a difference was manifested.
John Warren hired a small, nea
cottage Just out OF London, and fur
nishei il 10 cheap and inexpensiv
manner. One servant only was EN-
plOyed, who, together with q boy I
run errands, was found Sufficient 70
small establishment. But Stephe
Gray turned up bis nose at tue cot
tsge, aud hired a city house at fou
times the rent, which. Of course, re
quired more servants and q large
scale OF expenditure.
Pm not going 20 live like q pau
per, be said lof.ily.
But can you afford such house
Stephen asked his cousin.
sly business profits will be muc
greater than yours he answered.
begin where you will be Eve year
hence.
Perhaps so, said John shrewdIl
but where will you be then |?
Don't fear for me. said S.ephe
confidently, I'm ashamed OF your Il
not showing more enterprise. You'y
lmmured yourself Ia an obscure shoI
where you will do next TO no bt
siness.
Il done know about that. l.
rather be slow and sure. It's bett,
70 hug the shore t5an TO get Wrecke
in mid ocean.
Perhaps so, but I know am o
the way to fortune. Ten years froI
now shaIl have Turned my iy
thousand pounds into hundre
thousand. wbilo you may possibl
have fifteen.
I see you are not TO be convin eed
Nor you, ] suppose.
No, nv motto Is, slow and-sure.'
Aod mine, nothing venture, moth
ing have
SO the two cousins separated.
l am bound to confess, though m
Own feeling 10 that John vas rigb
that circumstances seemed 10 iustif
stephen In bis course. II SO hap
pened that tho particular, classes 9
goods which be bad bought 30 largo
", rose rapidly, owing 10 a state Q
things which needn't be explainef
and IS his stock was large bis profit
we're alec very large. Indeed, not
. ithstanding his personal expense