The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-06
MR.. BEECHER'S PRECEPTs.
A Letter Which Contains Much Good Adj
vice to His Son.

Letter Which Contains Much Good Ad-
vice to His Son.
The following is letter from Henry
Ward Beecher 70 his son Herbert, formerly
Collector at Port Townsend:
BRooKLYN IN. ", October Is, 1878.
My Dear Herbert: You are now for the irst
time really launched into lie for yourself. You
20 from your fathers house and from all family
connections 10 make your own way In the world.
II IS g0od Time TO make new start, TO cast out
faults OF whose evil you have had an eXper fence,
and take on habits The want of which you have
found TO be so damaging.
1. You must not go into debt. Avoid debt as
you would The devil Make It fundamental
rule No debt-cash or nothing.
z. Make few promises. Religieusy observe
even the smallest promise. A man who means
TO keep his promises cannot afford TO make
many.
3. Be scrupulously careful in ali statements
Accuracy and perfect frankDess, no guess work.
Either nothing or accurate truth.
4 When working Tor others sink yourself ont
OF sight, seek their interest Make yourself nee
esSaiy 10 those who employ you by industry,
hdelity aud serupulous integrity. Selfsnness is
fatal.
3. Hold yourself responsible for higher
standard than anybody else expects of you. De
mand more OF yourself than ANYBODY else ex-
poets OF you. Keep your personal standard high.
Never excuse yourself 10 yourself Never pity
yourself Be hard master 10 yourself, but leni-
ent 10 everybody else.
q. Concentrate your force on your own proper
business; do not turn of. Be constant. stead
fast, perseyering.
T. The art of making ones fortune Is to spend
nothing. In this country any intelligent and In
dustrous young man may become rich II he stops
all leaks and Is not In a hurry. DO not make
haste; he patient.
s. DO not speculate or gamble. You 20 TO a
lahd where everybody Is excited and strives 10
make money, suddenly, largely and without
working Tor II. They blow soap bubbles Steady,
patient industry is both she surest and the safest
way Greedness aud Haste are Two devils that
destroy thousands every year.
.. In regard 10 Mr. b, he is a Southern
gentleman: tie Is receiving a a In, nv
do not let him regret IT,
10. beseech yOu TO correct one fault-severe
speech OF others; never speak evil Of any man. nc
matter what tile facts may be. Hasty faIlI-ind-
honorable, is apt 10 be unjust and cruel, makes
enemies 10 yourself, and Is wicked.
IL You must remember mat You 20 TO Mr.
B not 10 learn 10 manage q farm like his
One or TWO hundred acres, not 10000, is TO be
your future homestead, but you can learn the
care OF cattle. sheep. the culture Of wheat The
climate, country, manners and customs and q
hundred things that will be needful.
II. II by integrity. Industry and well-earued
success You deserve well OF your fellow citizens.
they may In years 10 come ask you To accept
honofS. DO not seek them; do not receive them
wh:'d you are young; wait; but when you are
established you may make your fathers name
do not forget your fathers and your mother s
God Because You VIII be largely deprived OF
church privileges, you need all your nerve TO
keep your heart before God But 10 not desptse
small churches aud humble preachers. Mind
not high things, but cOndescend 10 men of low
estate"
Read often the Proverbs, the preeepts and
duties enjOned IN the New Testament May
your fathers God 20 with you and protect you.
HENRY WARD BEECHER.