The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-07-25
From Sire 10 Son.

The following letter from Henry
Ward Beecher to his son is authentic
and should be carefully pOndered by
every young man
my Dear Herbert; You ale now
for the first time really launched into
life for yourself. You 60 from your
fathers house, and from all family
connections, to make your own way
in the world. 1t is good time tc
make new start, to cast out faults
of whose evil you have had an eX'
perience, and to take on habits the
want of which you have found to be sc
damaging. -,
81. You must not 60 into debt.
Avoid debt as you would the devil.
Make it a fundamental rule; No debt
cash or nothing.
"2. Make few promises. Religious
ly observe even the smallest promise.
A man who means to keep his promises
cannot afford to make any. =,
"3. Be scrupulously careful in all
statements. Accuracy and per1ect
frankness, noguess-wOrk. Either notn-
ing or accurate truth.
"a. When working for others, sink
yourself out of sight, seek their inter
est. Make yourself necessary to those
who employ you by industry, fidelity
and scrupulous integrity. Selfishness
is fatal.
IS. Hold yourself responsible for a
higher standard than anybody else ex'
poets of you. Demand more of your
self than anybody else expects of you.
Keep your personal standard high.
Never excuse yourself to yourself
never pity yourself. Be hard mas
ter.to yourself be lenient to everybody
else.
"6. Concentrate your force on your
proper business do not TURN OF. BE
constant, steadfast, persevering.
~. The art of making ones for
tune is to spend nothing. In this
country an Intelligent and industrious
young man may become rich If he
Stops all leaks and is not in hurry.
Do not make haste be patient.
"S. Do not speculate or gamble.
You go to a land where everybody is
excited and strives to make money
suddenly, largely, and without work
ing for it. They blow soaE bubbles.
Steady, patient industry is both the
surest and safest way. Greedlness
and haste are two devils that destroy
thousands every year.
"9. In regard to Mr.. B, he is a
Southern gentleman he is receiving
you as favor to me; do notle him re-
gret it.
"lO. 1 beseech you to correct one
fault-severe speech of others; never
speak evil of any man, no matter what
the facts may be. Hasty, fault-find-
ing and severe speech of absent people
is not honorable, is apt to be unjust
and cruel, makes enemies to yourself,
and is wicked.
al. You must remember that you
90 to Mr.. B. not to learn to manage
farm like his. One or two hundred
acres, not forty thousand, is to be your
future homestead but you Can learn
the care of cattle, sheep, the culture of
wheat, climate, country, manners,
and customs, and hundred things
that will be needful.
"l2. If by integrity, industry, and
well-earned success you deserve well
of you fellow-citlzens, they may in
years to come ask you to accept honOrs.
Do not seek them, do not receive them
while you are young-wait; but when
you are established you may make
your fathers name known with honor
in halls of legislation.
"Lastly, do not forget your fathers
and your mothers God. Because you
will be largely deprived of church
privileges, you need all the nerve to
keep your heart before God. But do
not despise small churches and hum
BILE preachers. mind not thigh things,
but condescend to men of low estate.''
"Read often the Proverbs, the pre-
cepts and duties enjoined in the New
Testament. May your fathers God go
with you and protect you"