families of the name of Bruce, is rendered probable by the manners of the times. After receiving the last unpleasing intelligence from Scotland, Bruce was lying one morning on his wretched bed, and deliberating with himself whether he had not better resign all thoughts of again attempting to make good his right to the Scottish crown, and, dismissing his followers, transport himself and his brothers to the Holy Land, and spend the rest of his life in fighting against the Saracens; by which he thought, perhaps, he might deserve the forgiveness of Heaven for the great sin of stabbing Comyn in the church at Dumfries. But then, on the other hand, he thought it would be both criminal and cowardly to give up his attempts to restore freedom to Scotland, while yet there remained the least chance of his being successful in an undertaking which, rightly considered, was much more his duty than to drive the infidels out of Palestine, though the superstition of his age might think otherwise. "While he was divided betwixt these reflections, and doubtful of what he should do, Bruce was looking upward to the roof of the cabin in which he lay; and his eye was attracted by a spider, which, hanging at the end of a long thread of its own. spinning, was endeavoring, as is the fashion of that creature, to swing itself from one beam in the roof to another, for the purpose of fixing the line on which it meant to stretch its web. The insect made the attempt again and again without success; and at length Bruce counted that it had tried to carry its point six times, and been as often unable to do so. It came into his head that he had himself fought just six battles against the English and their allies, and that the poor persevering spider was exactly in the same situation with himself, having made as many trials and been as often disappointed in what it aimed at. 'Now,' thought Bruce, 'as I have no means of knowing what is best to be done, I will be guided by the luck which shall attend this spider. If the insect shall make another effort to fix its thread and shall be successful, I will venture a seventh time to try my fortune in Scotland; but if the spider shall fail, I will go to the wars in Palestine and never return to my native country more.' "While Bruce was forming this resolution, the spider made another exertion with all the force it could muster, and fairly succeeded in fastening its thread to the beam which it had so often in vain attempted to reach. Bruce, seeing the success of the spider, resolved to try his own fortune; and as he had never before gained a victory, so he never afterward sustained any considerable or decisive check or defeat. I have often met with people of the name of Bruce, so completely persuaded of the truth of this story that they would not on any account kill a spider; because it was that insect which had shown the example of perseverance and given a signal of good luck to their great namesake." A wealthy merchant of Edinburgh has in his countingroom, painted in large letters, the words, "Try Again." One of his friends says of him, in accounting for his phenomenal success: "He had learned the truth of the Bible maxim, "The hand of the diligent maketh rich,' and also of another, which applies no less to the business of his life than to the things which belong to the concerns of the world to come-'Be not weary in welldoing, for in due season ye shall reap if ye faint not."" THE MAN OF BUSINESS NON Hints on Economy By HENRY HARDWICKE ONE can be rich without economy, and with it few can be poor. Franklin called economy the philosopher's stone. He says: "If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher's stone." Again he says: "Let honesty and industry be thy constant companions, and spend one penny less than thy clear gains; then shall thy pocket begin to thrive, creditors will not insult, nor want oppress, nor hunger bite, nor nakedness freeze thee." The practical wisdom of Franklin has been of incalculable benefit to the people of the United States. His sensible advice has made the fortunes of thousands. Economy is half the battle of life; it is not so hard to earn money as it is to keep it after it is earned. Many people ruin themselves by purchasing things which are superfluous. Nothing is cheap which is not needed, for what one does not need is dear at a cent. If a man will take care to be an economist in prosperity, there is no fear of his not being one in adversity. It has been well said by Hawkesworth that "Economy is the parent of integrity, of liberty, and of ease; and the beauteous sister of temperance, of cheerfulness, and health; and profuseness is a cruel and crafty demon, that gradually involves her followers in dependence and debts, and so fetters them with irons that enter into their inmost souls." Only a few are made rich by vast enterprises conducted with the sagacity of a Gould, a Vanderbilt, or a Sage. The majority prosper only through the carefulness and detail of thrift. He whose habits are not thrifty is already on the road |