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ADVICE

то A

YOUNG TRADESMAN.

R

EMEMBER that time is money. He that can earn ten fhillings a day by his labour, and goes abroad, or fits idle one half of that day, though he fpends but fixpence during his diverfion or idleness, ought not to reckon that the only expence; he has really spent, or rather thrown away, five fhillings befides.

REMEMBER that credit is money. If a man lets his money lie in my hands after it is due, he gives me the intereft, or fo much as I can make of it during

that

that time. This amounts to a confiderable fum when a man has good and large credit, and makes good ufe of it. REMEMBER that money is of a prolific generating nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more, and fo on. Five fhillings turned is fix; turned again, it is feven and three pence; and fo on till it becomes an hundred pounds. The more there is of it, the more it produces, every turning, fo that the profits rife quicker and quicker. He that kills a breeding fow, deftroys all her offspring to the thoufandth generation. He that murders a crown, deftroys all that it might have produced, even scores of pounds.

REMEMBER that fix pounds a year is but a groat a day. For this little fum, which may be daily wafted either in time or expence, unperceived, a man of credit may, on his own fecurity, have the conftant poffeffion and use of an hun

dred

dred pounds. So much in ftock, brifkly turned by an industrious man, produ ces great advantage.

REMEMBER this faying, "The good paymaster is lord of another man's purse." He that is known to pay punctually and exactly to the time he promises, may at any time, and on any occafion, raife all the money his friends can fpare. This is fometimes of great ufe. After industry and frugality, nothing contributes more to the raising of a young man in the world, than punctuality and justice in all his dealings: therefore never keep borrowed money an hour beyond the time you promised, left a disappointment fhut up your friend's purfe for ever.

THE most trifling actions that affect a man's credit are to be regarded. The found of your hammer at five in the morning, or nine at night, heard by a creditor, makes him easy fix months

longer;

longer; but if he fees you at a billiard table, or hears your voice at a tavern, when you fhould be at work, he fends for his money the next day; demands it before he can receive it in a lump.

IT fhews, besides, that you are mindful of what you owe; it makes you appear a careful, as well as honest man, and that ftill increases your credit.

BEWARE of thinking all your own that you poffefs, and of living accordingly. It is a mistake that many people who have credit fall into. To prevent this, keep an exact account, for fome time, both of your expences and your income. If you take the pains at first to mention particulars, it will have this good effect; you will discover how wonderfully fmall trifling expences mount up to large fums, and will discern what might have been, and may for the future be faved, without occafioning any great inconvenience.

IN

IN fhort, the way to wealth, if you defire it, is as plain as the way to mar. ket. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality; that is, wafte neither time nor money, but make the best ufe of both. Without industry and frugality nothing will do, and with them every thing. He that gets all he can honestly, and faves all he gets, (necef fary expences excepted) will certainly become rich; if that Being who governs the world, to whom all should look for a bleffing on their honest endeavours, doth not, in his wife provi dence, otherwise determine.

AN OLD TRADESMAN,

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