"Good-morning, Paul," said the merchant, pleasantly; "what can I do for you this morning?" "I want to consult you on a matter of business, Mr. Preston." "I shall be glad to advise you as well as I can." Hereupon Paul explained the matter, first displaying the advertisement. "Do you think the shop favorably situated for business?" asked Mr. Preston. "Yes, sir." "Is it pretty well stocked?" "Yes, sir. If I had it I might want to increase the stock a little." "So the man asks a thousand dollars cash?" "Yes, sir." "How much money have you?" "Six hundred." "Well, Paul, I think favorably of your plan. If you want to take the shop, I will lend you the money you need, and stand security for the remainder." "Thank you, sir," said Paul, joyfully. "Wait a minute till you hear my conditions. This is strictly a business arrangement between us. I expect you to pay me interest at the legal rate, and to pay it punctually as it falls due. You understand that?" "Yes, sir, that is only fair." "As you say, it is only fair, yet borrowers are apt to forget it. They will make all sorts of promises when they want to borrow, and break them afterward. Even honest men will think it is enough to pay interest whenever it is convenient, forgetting that by their neglect they are injuring their credit. Some years since I helped two former clerks to establish themselves in business. Both were honest; but while one was prompt in all his engagements, and waited upon me on the very day the interest came due with the money ready, the other obliged me to send for it, and then put me off on every occasion, though he paid finally. The result was, that after a while I assisted the first cheerfully to extend his business. The second, hearing of it, made a similar application, which I promptly refused. Do you wonder at it?" "Not at all, sir. I think you were perfectly right." "Be prompt in all your engagements. That is a good rule in business, and in everything else. I have confidence in your integrity, and shall be very glad to assist you. Go and finish your negotiation, and when you want the money come to me." "Thank you, sir, not only for your kind offer, but for your advice." "He is going to succeed," said the merchant, as Paul went out. "He will some day be a prosperous man." The merchant was pleased at the respect with which his advice was received. Young America is very apt to regard the counsel of the old and experienced as of slight value; but in this they make a great mistake. There are plenty of young men, who, from their own self-sufficiency and impatience of good advice, go to financial ruin every year. He shows wisdom who avails himself of the experience of other men, avoiding their errors, and imitating what in them is worthy of imitation.