Year: 1864

VIII you discount this note for me !!
The question was asked by a merchant
in the office of private banker, man of
large fortune, who had retired from pusi-
ness, aud now used his capital for discount
ing instead Of in trade


The shrewd money lender took the note,
and alter examining the face, handed it
back with shake of the head, and
very firm compression on his mouth.
1T is A number one, said the merchant,
with almost an amused smile, at the pru
denee of the money lender


Il have no question as to that was re.
piled. If | were in business, should
not hesitate to sell the firm to any reason
allie extent


why, then, will you not buy their note p


A pleasant light came into the money
lenders face. He looked knowing. aud
very self complacent.


i was in market the other dav,' said he.
"and as | stood buying some fruit at a wo
mans stall, man, in going by, was crowd.
ed against basket standing thereon,
which tell to the pavement 1t was near.
ly filed with eggs, more than two thirds
OF which were broken. 'Ah, my good wo,
man, said |, the old error of too many
eggs in one basket. If you had placed
them in two or three baskets, instead of
one, this general wreck would never have
occurred In my business, sir. continued
the money lender, Il never commit the er.
ror Ut this market woman | never place
too many eggs in one bask ct. Do you un.
derstand me j"


Il believe so,' replied the merchant. -
You already have enough of this paper


just as much as intended buying.-
When some Of it is taken up, | will make
room for more. These are fixed laws, sir,
that govern ne in this business, and new
er depart from them


Good morning. said the merchant, smi
ling. Il hope you will never get too many
eggs in one basket


No fear of that. If basket is upset
and the eggs in it broken, | shall be able
to bear the loss


The merchant withdrew, and the money
lender turned over in his mind the word
just spoken, and felt self com plimented at
his wise caution. 'No-no'-he repeated
over and over again. They cannot tempt
me to place too many eggs in one basket.
l am too old aud prudent for tt at


This figure OF speech seemed to please
the money lender, and he used it g number
OF times during the day, in declining good
business paper that was offered.


Have | put too many eggs in one bask
ct, today?' he asked of himself as he sat
alone during the evening that followed,
counting up, mentally, his gains, and looking
with feeling of pleasure, at the unusually
large aggregate Let me see? That last
note of l. - & O-'s came very near
to violation OF the rule There are quite
enough eggs in that basket | must not
venture another one. But the temptation
of two per cent. was hardly to be resisted
on such paper which all regard as gilt,
edged


1t was now over FIVE years since our
money lender withdrew from productive
trade. and narrowed down his intellect and
his efforts to the simple business of buying
paper, which the holders were unable to
get done in bank. During that period he
had added largley to his wealth; while his
desire Tor accumulation had grown strong.
er, and manifested itself in a more eager
reaching out after, and drawing of the
gold that perlshes. As merchant he had
been liberal, generous, kind hearted; and
all men spoke of him as such Bnt the
work OF mere money getting, outside of any