Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 6Sylvester, Charles Herbert
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Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 6
Sylvester, Charles Herbert
Children's literature; Literature -- Collections
Methinks I hear some of you say, "Must a man afford himself no leisure?"
I will tell thee, my friend, what Poor Richard says, "employ thy time
well if thou meanest to gain leisure;" and "since thou art not sure of a
minute, throw not away an hour!" Leisure is time for doing something
useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man
never; so that, as Poor Richard says, "a life of leisure and a life of
laziness are two things." Do you imagine that sloth will afford you more
comfort than labor? No! for, as Poor Richard says, "trouble springs from
idleness and grievous toil from needless ease." "Many, without labor,
would live by their wits only, but they'll break for want of stock;"
whereas industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect. "Fly pleasure
and they'll follow you;" "the diligent spinner has a large shift;" and
"Now I have a sheep and a cow,
Everybody bids me good-morrow."
All which is well said by Poor Richard. But with our industry we must
likewise be steady, settled, and careful, and oversee our own affairs
with our own eyes and not trust too much to others; for, as Poor Richard
says,
"I never saw an oft-removed tree
Nor yet an oft-removed family
That throve so well as those that settled be."
And again, "three removes are as bad as a fire"; and again, "keep thy
shop and thy shop will keep thee"; and again, "if you would have your
business done, go; if not, send." And again
"He that by the plow would thrive,
Himself must either hold or drive."
And again, "the eye of the master will do more work than both his
hands;" and again, "want of care does us more damage than want of
knowledge;" and again, "not to oversee workmen is to leave them your
purse open."
Trusting too much to others' care is the ruin of many; for, as the
almanac says, "in the affairs of this world men are saved, not by faith,
but by the want of it;" but a man's own care is profitable; for, saith
Poor Dick, "learning is to the studious and riches to the careful;" as
well as "power to the bold" and "heaven to the virtuous." And further,
"if you would have a faithful servant and one that you like, serve
yourself."
And again, he adviseth to circumspection and care, even in the smallest
matters; because sometimes "a little neglect may breed great mischief;"
adding, "for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the
horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost;" being
overtaken and slain by the enemy; all for the want of a little care
about a horseshoe nail!
So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one's own business;
but to these we must add frugality if we would make our industry more
certainly successful. "A man may," if he knows not how to save as he
goes "keep his nose all his life to the grindstone and die not worth a
groat at last." "A fat kitchen makes a lean will," as Poor Richard
says; and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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