you;" and " always be found in your business if you would keep your customers;" also, "love your business and be not in haste to leave it when your presence does not appear to be longer necessary;" for, "he who does a thing himself, hath a mind to have it done; but he who sends another, cares little about it.” These things I would wish you to notice the more paricularly, as, from carelessness proceedeth bankruptcy and loss of credit ;" because it is but just to conclude 'people will not trust their goods to those whom they see squander them away, and regard not their property;" for no man can account that his own which he never paid for;" and besides, "creditors have better memories than debtors, and are a superstitious race, great observers of set days and times;" for in all commercial transactions "credit is punctuality, and punctuality is wealth," and "the word of a merchant is his bond;" and again, "he who pays by the shilling, keeps his own house and other men's also ;" and "he who pays his debts, begins to make a stock;" for," he who pays well is master of every body's purse; and it is really a true saying," he is a rich man who owes nothing;" and again, as POPE says, "An honest man's the noblest work of God." V. By attending to the following precepts of wisdom, and avoiding what is pointed out as wrong therein, you may not only gain the honourable character of an honest man, so much to be esteemed by all ranks, and be able to pay your debts, but you may also be able to lay up riches against the winter of old age," a consideration of such importance that it should always be in your memory, and the realising of it your first care. 1. "Riches being the reward of frugality and industry," sweep your own doors for seven years after you begins trade, and in twice seven years you may ride in your carri age." 2. "Drive thy business, let not thy business drive: thee;" but rather, "always do what you must do to day, and do not leave it till to-morrow." "" 3. Recollect, that "he who loses an hour in bed in the morning, is employed all the rest of the day in running H # 3 after after it ;" so that "he who lies long in bed, pays for the indulgence in his estate." The slighting of these maxims has been the ruin of many VI. I shall also proffer you my advice in respect to care fulness-In the first place, you must understand, that "want of care does more damage than want of know ledge ;" and also, that "good fortune only comes to bum who takes care to win her;" and again, "he who would make a door of gold, must drive a nail every day.” 66 wealth And, in the second place, you must know, that " he whe gets does much, but he who keeps does more ;" as is not his who gets it, but his who carefully enjoys it;" because, "all is not safe nor won that is put in the purse." An extravagant man is always lavishing away bis money as quickly as he gets it, thus verifying the al adage, "a fool and his money is soon parted." In the third place remember, that “ a penny saved is twice got ;" and that "most fortunes were saved, not got ;" and it is evident "he that doth not mind small things, will never get a great deal ;" for "he that makes no reckoning of a penny will never be worth sixpence ;" and again," he who will take no pains, will never build a house three stories high." VII. As to the profits charged on goods, these are various as the commodities exposed to sale, and the extent of the profit is according to the utility or nature of the goods. The merchant being satisfied with a moderate gain on such things as are really necessary to existence, those things being accounted sure selling articles; but on any fancy article not actually needful to the preservation or comfort of life, he charges a higher or extra profit, as judging it a risk to keep those things, and also to pay him the interest of the money he lies out of whilst they are on hand, most articles of that kind being valuable. To advise on that point is not my intention, conceiving you to be most able to judge for yourselves on so nice a case; only, as there are some persons who indeed go beyond the mark," it is on this head I beg leave to advise. In this case it is better to "live and let live," for you will find by experience through course of time that “light gains make a heavy purse," by dealing in “quick returns and small profits;" and sooner "prefer loss to unjust gains," for it is always the case "he who thinks to cheat another, cheats himself;" and in giving trust, as "short credit makes long friends," so "Ready money joins the hands Of men in friendship's social bands." VIII. In trade" always venture a small fish to catch a great one," for "nothing venture, nothing won;" but venture not all in one bottom," lest that speculation failing might involve you in ruin; because, "that which is bought cheap is often the dearest ;" for should the prices of these articles by the fluctuating of the market fall lower than what you purchased them at, by that event you become a considerable loser, which verifies the adage. -This is more particularly applied to the speculating on and hoarding up of goods, in the idea of an advancement in their prices and sale. IX. Concerning the expenses in living, "spend every day a penny less than your clear gain ;" for, "it is better to live on a little, than outlive a great deal ;" and again, "better go to bed supperless than rise in debt;" because you may rest assured, "he that goes a borrowing, goes a sorrowing;" as "he that borrows must pay again, either with shame or loss;" for, "he that borrows a hundred ⚫ pounds at interest, in fourteen years must pay double ;" and conversely, "he that lends a hundred pounds at interest, in fourteen years will receive double. 66 X. Respecting your behaviour and deportment to those with whom you may transact business, obliging language costs little and does much good;" besides, a civil word is as soon said as a rude one," and "a man's hat in bis hand never did him harm." In the opinion of the genteel orders of society, "'tis manners makes the man." This I would advise you to keep in view; for as nothing pleases a person of sense more than politeness and affability, neither does any thing offend him more than an arrogant and haughty demeanour. XI. XI. Be careful in business "never to sign a writing till you have read it ;" and always "receive your money before you give a receipt, but take a receipt before you pay." By attending to and fulfilling these adages and maxims, you may save yourselves both trouble and money; for many are the losses that occur daily for want of punctual regard to these excellent axioms. XII. And to conclude, I offer you, my juvenile friends, the following rules to be observed by you, and then fare well! If rich be not elated; if poor be not dejected. In business be attentive, and to idleness an avowed enemy. Yours, &c. Juvenile Amusements. A RECLUSE. TO THE EDITORS OF THE CHEAP MAGAZINE. GENTLEMEN, IF any of the following articles be deemed worthy of a place in your very useful and instructive Magazine, they are at your service. Yours, &c. Beith, 1814. A. A. A CAREFUL master, on being informed that an unfortunate accident had befallen a young gentleman, at one of our public schools, from an arrow shot into his eye at play, summoned his pupils together, and after expatiating on this sad misfortune, addressed them in the following terms: "Young gentlemen, the love of play is natural to you-it is suited to your years, and salutary to your health; far be it from me, then, to abridge you of pastimes properly selected, and seasonably used. It is my wish to regulate your pleasures, not to restrain them. Whatever is likely to be attended with danger, ceases to be an amusement. Did I not caution you on this head, you might, in case of misfortune misfortune, have reason to reflect. on me. Think on the melancholy accident I have mentioned, and be warned: Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum. "All kinds of play, likewise, where too violent exertion is required, where you risk the extremes of heat and cold, should be avoided, as inimical to health. How often is misery entailed on age by a single act of imprudence in youth! Whenever we labour, it should he to forward some useful end; to do good to ourselves, or to benefit others, "When danger and excess are guarded against, the field is open to you; and the ingenuity of youth, in so many preceding ages, has invented numerous sports to exercise without fatigue, and to amuse without endangering. Chuse which you will, under the above restrictions-vary them as often as you please for variety is a source of pleasure; from me you shall have no obstruction. To see you happy shall be my delight-but to see you safe is my duty. "There are, however, occasionally many hours, after you have obtained a passport to play, by punctually performing your tasks, in which several kinds of relaxation will be agreeable to an ingenious youth, which cannot be colectively pursued. That pastime in which numbers are concerned, and which may be denominated corporeal, hould, at intervals, give way to intellectual pleasures, and these are only to be found in solitary study, or in select ociety. "Bad weather will give a charm to reading books of ntertainment and instruction. This taste, indeed, ought be early cultivated, as it forms the principal enjoyment f the lonely hour through life, and is the only solace of ecrepit age. A turn for drawing, painting, or music, is kewise deserving encouragement in youth. It often eeps them from idle or vicious pursuits, and fills up the anks of life with elegant entertainment. Let me, therere, recommend some attention to those studies, not as sks prescribed, but as pleasing amusements. "Ja very early youth, active pleasures, and those which e wholly corporeal, are not to be blamed; they strengththe constitution, and fit it for the discharge of manly ployments. But when the judgment makes some ad vances |