Year: 1864

Almost every merchant has been rich
or at least prosperous, at some point Of his
life, and if he is poor now, he can see. very
well how he might have avoided the disas-
ters which oyerthrew his hopes lie will
probably see chat MS misfortnnes arose from
neglecting some Of the following rules BE
industrious. Everybody knows that indus
try is fundamental virtue in the man OF
business. But it is not every sort of indus
try which tends to wealth. Many men
work hard to do a great business, and after
all make less money than they would if
they did less. Industry should be ex-
pended in setting to all the details of bust
ness; in carefully finishing up each under
taking, and in the maintenance of such a
system as will keep everything under con-
troll, .,C


Be economical. This rule also is familiar
to everybody. Economy is virtue to be
practiced in pence as much as in pounds.
A shilling day saved, amounts to an es-
tate in the course Of life Economy is
especially important in the outset Of life,
until the foundations of an estate are laid
Many men are poor all their days because
when their necessary expenses were small,
they did not seize the opportunity to save a
small capital, which would have changed
their fortunes for the whole of their lives.


Stick to the business in which you are
regularly employed. Let spectators make
their thousands in year or day mind
your own regular trade, never turning from
it to the right hand or the left If you are
a merchant, professional man, or me-
chanic, never buy lots Or stocks unless you
have surplus money which you wish to in
vest Your own business you understand
as we'll as other men; but other peoples
business you do not understand. Let your
business be some one that is useful to the
community. All such occupations possess
the elements Of profit in themselves, while
mere speculation has no such clemens


+ Never take great hazards. Such hazards
are seldom even balanced by the prospects
ofproft and if they were, the habit of mind
which is induced, is unfavorablc, and gen
orally the result is bad. 70 keep what you
have, should be the first rule: to get what
you can fairly, the second z.54


Z Do not be III hurry TO get rich. Grad
ual gains are the only natural gains, and
they who are in haste to be rich, break over
sound rules, fall into temptations and dis
trcss of various sorts, and generally fail Of
their object. There is no use in getting
rich suddenly. The man who keeps his
business under his control and saves some
thing from year to year, is always rich. At
any rate he possesses the highest enjoyment
which riches are able to afford.


Never do business for the sake Of doing
it and being accounted a great merchant.
There is often more money to be made by a
small business than large one; and that
business will in the end be most respectable
which is most successful. Do not get deep
ly in debt; but SO manage as always, if pos
sble, to have your financial position easy,
so that you can turn any way you please.
Do not love money extravaganty. We
speak here, merely with reference to getting
rich In morals, the inordinate love of
money is one of the most degrading vices.
But the extravagant desire of accumulation,
induces an eagerness many times, which is
imprudent, and so misses its object from
too much haste to grasp it.