Habits of Business.

"Habits of business," says Mr. Freedley, "include six qualities :—Industry, arrangement, calculation, prudence, punctuality, and perseverance. Are you industrious? Are you methodical? Are you calculating? Are you prudent? Are you punctual? Are you persevering? If so, you possess what is known by the familiar term, habits of business. It is not the possession of any one of these qualities in perfection, nor the occasional exercise of them by fits and starts, as it is called, that will constitute a man of business; but it is the possession of them all in an equal degree, and their continuous exercise as habits, that gives reputation and constitutes ability. The difference in men and their success may be attributed, in a measure, to a difference in their business habits; and many a man has made his fortune with no other capital than their superior cultivation. In fact, a large capital and excellent opportunities, without them, will only provoke greater disaster and a more widespread ruin. Perfection in most things is unattainable; yet men have attained to a greater degree of perfection in the cultivation of these qualities than in almost anything else; and, at all events, it is certain that he who 'aimeth at the sun, though he may not hit his mark, will shoot higher than be that aimeth at a bush.'

"Industry is the energetic engagement of body or mind in some useful employment. It is the opposite of that Indian maxim, which says, 'It is better to walk than to run, and better to stand still than to

walk, and better to sit than to stand, and better to lie down than to sit.' Industry is the secret of those grand results that fill the mind with wonderthe folios of the ancients, the pyramids of the Egyptians, those stupendous works of internal communication in our own country that bind the citizens of many different states in the bonds of harmony and interest. The tendency of matter is to rest, and it requires an exercise of force or of will to overcome the vis inertia. When a thing should be done, it must be done immediately, without parleying or delay. A repeated exercise of the will, in this way, will soon form the habit of industry.

"Arrangement digests the matter that industry collects. It apportions time to duties, and keeps an exact register of its transactions; it has a post for every man, a place for every tool, a pigeon-hole for every paper, and a time for every settlement. A perfectly methodical man leaves his books, accounts, etc., in so complete a shape on going to bed, that, if he were to die during the night, everything could be perfectly understood. Jeremiah Evarts is repre

sented to have been a model of industry and arrangement. A friend says: 'During years of close observation in the bosom of his family, I never saw a day pass without his accomplishing more than he expected; and so regular was he in all his habits, that I knew to a moment when I should find him with his pen, and when with his tooth-brush, in his hand; and so methodical and thorough that, though his papers filled many shelves when closely tied up, there was

not a paper among all his letters, correspondence, editorial matter, and the like, which he could not lay his hands on in a moment. I never knew him search for a paper: it was always in its place.' Some manifest this habit at an earlier age than others, and apparently exercise it with less difficulty; but any one with attention may acquire it. "Calculation is the mind of business. A readiness in calculation gives a man a great advantage over his less experienced neighbour; and many a man has brought his fish to a bad market from inability to calculate quickly and accurately. To attain the habit of quick calculation without the aid of a slate and pencil, Dr. Alcott recommends that the learner seize on 'every circumstance which occurs in his reading, where reckoning is required, and, if possible, stop at once and compute it. Or, if not, let the place be marked, and, at the first leisure moment, let him turn to it and make the estimates.'

"Prudence is defined to be wisdom applied to practice. Under prudence are comprehended the discreet suiting and disposing as well of actions as of words in their due place, time, and manner. It is principally in reference to actions to be done, and due means, order, season, and method of doing or not doing. In a case where the probabilities on the one hand somewhat preponderate over the other, yet if there be no considerable hazard on that side which has the least probability, and a very great apparent danger in a mistake about the other, prudence will

oblige a man to do that which may make most for his safety. It is always prudent, in matters of importance, to conceal intentions, or we may be anticipated by others. It is prudent to withhold confidence from an entire stranger, and in some cases to do nothing.

"Punctuality is the hinge of business. It is a virtue that all men reverence in theory, but all do not carry into practice. We like a punctual man, because he respects his word, and has a regard for our convenience: we dislike an unpunctual man because he interferes with our plans, consumes our time, causes uneasy feelings, and implicitly tells us that we are not of sufficient importance, in his estimation, to make him prompt. Punctuality has reference to time engagements, money engagements, and engagements for work. It is a quality that is usually found in connection with other good qualities, as the want of it argues the absence of other essential habits. A want of system, defective calculation, and imprudence in making promises when the probabilities of fulfilling them are very uncertain, are frequent causes of want of punctuality. To be unpunctual is sometimes considered a mark of consequence by little great men; but truly great men have always thought differently. Blackstone was punctual, and could never be made to think well of any one notoriously defective in this virtue. A modern peer, while a kingdom seemed to be resting on his shoulders—who presided in the House of Lords and the Court of

Chancery, who gave audience daily to barristers, and found time to be at the head of at least ten associations was so punctual, it is said, that, when the associations met, he was uniformly at his place in the chair when the hour of meeting had arrived.

"Perseverance is the last of the business habits that we have to notice. It means the steady pursuit of a plan, whether good or bad; but it would be very unwise to persevere in a plan which conscience or practice had proved to be bad. In actual life, where there are so many different pursuits, and different ways of doing the same thing, it means steadiness in the execution of whatever plan is determined upon. Burgh makes mention of a merchant who, at first setting out, opened and shut his shop every day, for several weeks together, without selling goods to the value of a penny, who, by the force of application for a course of years, rose, at last, to a handsome fortune. But I have known, he continues, many who had a variety of opportunities for settling themselves comfortably in the world; yet for want of steadiness to carry any scheme to perfection, they sank from one degree of wretchedness to another for many years together, without the least hopes of ever getting above distress and pinching want. There is hardly an employment in life so trifling, that it will not afford a subsistence if constantly and faithfully followed. Indeed, it is by indefatigable diligence alone that a fortune can be acquired in any business whatever."