burdens of life thus lightened of their weight, you shall endure them cheerfully, so that, whenever you be said of you, fall in the embrace of death, it may in the words of Aldich: "His sufferings ended with the day, Yet lived he at its close; And breathed the long, long night away In statue-like repose. 'But when the sun, in all his state, Illumed the eastern skies, He passed through glory's morning gate, CHAPTER VII. ECONOMY AND TACT. S the acquisition of knowledge depends more upon what a man remembers than upon the quantity of his reading, so the acquisition of property depends more upon what is saved than upon what is earned. The largest reservoirs, though fed by abundant and living springs, will fail to supply their owners with water, if secret leaking-places are permitted to drain off their contents. In like manner, though by his skill and energy a man may convert his business into a flowing Pactolus, ever depositing its golden sands in his coffers, yet, through the numerous wastes of unfrugal habits, he may live embarrassed and die poor. Economy is the guardian of property- the good genius whose presence guides the footsteps of every prosperous and successful man. Economy is a trite and forbidding theme. The young man will feel tempted to pass it by, and proceed to the next chapter. But I beseech him to read on, since his social advancement depends, in a good degree, upon his frugality. He had better be doomed, like the sons of ancient Jacob in Egypt, to make bricks without straw, than to enter the scenes of active life without economy for a companion. Study well, therefore, young man, the following picture : RALPH MONTCALM is a merchant's clerk, enjoying a fair salary. His age is about twenty-two; his appearance is genteel, without foppishness; his manners are gentlemanly and polite, without affectation. By strict fidelity to the duties of his station, he has gained a high reputation for industry, energy, and integrity. He is also understood to be worth a few hundred dollars, which he has invested with great caution and judgment, where it will yield him a safe and profitable return. The general impression concerning him, among the merchants in his vicinity, is, that he will one day be a man of some importance in society. A shrewd business man remarked, one day, to his employer: "Your clerk has the elements of a successful merchant." "Yes, sir; Ralph is destined to wield considerable influence, 'on change,' one of these days; and being very economical in his habits, he can hardly fail of becoming a rich man." Such was the reply of Ralph's master. It showed that the clerk was acting on those principles which, in the estimation of experienced men, insure success. Yet Ralph's conduct found no sympathy from the fashionable disciples of dandyism, who filled situations similar to his own, as will be seen by the following conversations. Ralph was walking home, one evening, from his counting-room, when a fellow-clerk, who was quite an exquisite in his own estimation, overtook him. He was puffing a cigar after the most approved fash ion. Stepping up to Ralph, he touched him on the arm and said: "Good-evening, Mr. Montcalm!" "Good-evening, sir!" replied Ralph to this salutation; a few common-places passed between them, and then the dandy, taking out his case of Havanas, said: "Will you take a cigar with me, Mr. Montcalm ?" "I thank you, sir, but I never smoke!" replied Ralph, with an emphasis which left no room for persuasion. "Never smoke!" exclaimed the astonished dandy, replacing the cigar-case in his pocket. "What on earth can induce you to deny yourself so delicious a luxury?" "It is a luxury that costs too much, sir, for me to indulge in it. I really cannot afford it." "O, I see," retorted the smoker, as he puffed forth an enormous column of smoke from his steaming mouth; "you belong to the race of misers, and are set on saving your money, instead of enjoying life as it passes. For my part, I despise all such |