網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

mouth "—is on the broad highway to destruction, however dazzling its present outward show of prosperity.

VI. The true merchant will be a liberal but discriminating supporter of the press in his locality. He will not feel an obligation to patronize any and every thing that wears the form of a newspaper, but will scan carefully the intellectual ability and moral fitness of those who assume the lofty responsibility of public teaching through the press. He will not encourage the dissemination nor continuance of journals edited by the incompetent or unworthy; but if there be none other than these already in existence in his county, he will combine with men like himself to procure the establishment of such a journal as is needed, or the transfer of one already existing into the hands of some one qualified to guide opinion and dispel mental darkness. Such a journal he will liberally and steadily encourage and support, by advertising in its columns at good prices, by urging upon other business men the duty of doing likewise, and by soliciting his customers and neighbours to give it at least their subscriptions, regularly continued and uniformly paid in advance. By pursuing this course, the merchant may do very much toward the diffusion of intelligence, the predominance of sound principles, and the purification of morals. He need not be a political brawler nor habitual agitator on any subject-there is a more excellent way. He may give to an improved and influential journal in his county from two to five hundred dollars' worth of advertising per annum, and procure from others, by the power of his solicitations and example, five times. as much more; while each name added to the list of its

subscribers extends the publicity of his announcements, and their potency in enlarging his business. Thus will he exert a noiseless, unintermitted influence in diminishing the kingdom of darkness, extending the sway of virtue, and laying deep and broad the foundations of general and personal prosperity.

The true merchant will not be likely to forget that his essential function is that of an exchanger of products, and not merely that of a seller. In great cities, and at certain commercial points, this function is properly subdivided, not merely between buyers of produce and sellers of goods, but usually between many different classes of sellers and buyers; dry-goods, groceries, paints, meats, breadstuffs, &c. &c., being severally bought and sold by dealers in each particular department. It is otherwise, however, throughout a good part of the country, where, from the necessity of the case, the same person is both buyer and seller, and deals in nearly every variety of product exported, or fabric required by the people of his neighbourhood. Here the merchant should be not more solicitous to sell goods than to enable his customers readily to pay for them; to which end he should zealously promote every effort by feasible means to increase their facilities of communication with the seaboard, and to bring markets for their products nearer to their doors by their calling into existence new branches of industry, and building up or reviving manufactures. No wise merchant will fear that his trade will suffer by this diversification of pursuits; for abundant experience has demonstrated that they buy most from abroad who produce most and in greatest variety at home. Thus, Massachu

setts consumes far more (in value) of foreign products per annum than North Carolina or Tennessee, because the wide extension of her manufactures has rendered her industry far more universal, and has, by largely increasing her aggregate of production, correspondingly increased her power of purchase and consumption. Whether by reducing the expense of reaching a distant market, or by bringing a market for their surplus productions much nearer, the merchant who conduces to the essential advantage of his neighbours, his customers, ministers thereby to his own thrift and solid prosperity.

DELAYS.

SHUN delays, they breed remorse ;
Take thy time while time is lent thee;
Creeping snails have weakest force-

Fly their fault, lest thou repent thee;
Good is best when sooner wrought,
Ling ring labours come to nought.

Hoist up sail while gale doth last,

Tide and wind stay no man's pleasure!

Seek not time when time is past,

Sober speed is wisdom's leisure;

After wits are dearly bought,

Let thy forewit guide thy thought.

Time wears all his locks before,

Take thou hold upon his forehead;
When he flees he turns no more,

And behind his scalp is naked.
Works adjourn'd have many stays,
Long demurs breed new delays.

WILD YOUNG MEN.

THERE is a class of young men who consider themselves gentlemen, and who are received by many as if they were; and yet they deserve as well to be sent to the treadmill or to the hulks as any scoundrel who receives sentence at the Old Bailey. These are they whom partial acquaintances, or persons of weak principle, or of none, call "wild young men." Now, their wildness is the least objectionable thing about them. They are almost vain and heartless to the last degree; and, however desperate in their extravagance, they are cool and calculating enough in their selfishness. These are the reckless villains who break the hearts of widowed mothers, and seem to feel no remorse from it. They have no notion of affection save as a weakness in a parent or a friend, of which they make advantage to obtain money for gross indulgences. These are the monsters who, even after they have come to years in which some honest thoughtfulness and some manly feeling might be expected, go on in a base career of

blackguardism, which they are so wicked and so miserable as to think spirited, and dashing, and so forth. Meanwhile mothers' hearts are breaking, and sisters are made ashamed, and fathers become morose and despairing of all good, and domestic circles, which might be full of thankfulness, and cheerfulness, and hope, are, by the hardened profligacy of one of their members, turned into gloom, and gnawing anxiety, and terrified anticipation of what each new day may bring forth.

And they who do all this shocking mischief for their own gratification, are merely called "wild young men." What are they but robbers of the household store, ay, and too frequently, parricides also, killing father and mother by inches, bringing down gray hairs with sorrow to the grave? The hangman's whip would be the most appropriate tamer of such wildness.

GOOD ADVICE.

I HAVE rarely seen that man who conscientiously devoted himself to the studies and duties of any profession, and did not omit to take fair and honourable opportunities of offering himself to notice, when such presented themselves, has not at length got forward. The mischance of those who fall behind, though flung upon Fortune, more frequently arises from want of skill and perseverance. Life, my young friend, is like a game of cards-our hands are alternately good or bad, and the whole seems,

« 上一頁繼續 »