and

I published the correspondence; the Press took notice of it; and this act of persecution did me a great deal of good. In 1870 I had to undergo the same ordeal; but, wiser in their generation, these parties committed nothing to paper, and I had to get a manufacturer to make for me a similar class of goods. In 1877, a manufacturer wrote us: "As we have ascertained that you are underselling us in articles of our own manufacture, we are compelled to increase our prices as follows" (quoting the highest retail prices); thereby withdrawing from us the concessions made to wholesale dealers that buy to sell again. The underselling was giving "5 per cent. discount" to cash buyers, as a just equivalent for the three months and 2 per cent. discount given to his credit customers by this manufacturer. "Time," however, is on the side of "right "progress," and in 1882 this firm gave 5 per cent. for cash; so I called and asked to be put on the same footing as our competitors. A reply was promised by post; not getting it in a fortnight, called again; reason assigned for delay, "not been able to see other manufacturers who had, in 1877, agreed with them to charge us the higher prices." We are now charged the same prices as other wholesale houses; but you will perceive what narrow views still prevail, and that my experience justifies my asserting that trade is not so free as it seems to be; on the contrary, we find the spirit of "protection" in every trade and vocation, and men want "free trade" only in every other business than their own. I have always asserted that, with the "liberal credit" given to traders, the fact of not being able to meet one's bills when due, implies incompetency or insolvency, and have told men they must not rely on extraneous help, but only on their own efforts. Once in my life the liabilities on our pay-day seemed beyond my power, unless I asked some manufacturers to draw bills, to whom I had always paid cash. I wrote to a gentleman, asking for a loan for a few months, and told him the reason; he declined; and I have thanked him ever since, for the result proved that my principles were right. Extra effort was made; the accounts were all paid, as usual; the help was not wanted; and in a moment of weakness I had nearly sacrificed the principles of my life.

ness.

The above has been written to save others from a similar weakHave faith in the laws of God. If you do your part, use your brain in "looking forward," you will, if equal to the position you occupy, buy well, and not too largely; this is essential to success, as by so doing you will always be able to pay to "the day," and pay your way. Such, at least, has been my experience, and must be my apology to those of my readers who, mayhap, having been unfortunate, may think I have seemed too positive in asserting that

"failure and success are not the result of accident or fate, but every man has, more or less, great latent powers within him, and that it rests with himself to use his energies in developing the same, or to allow them, by his want of effort, to lie there undiscovered and unused, or, still worse, to misuse or abuse the powers, physically, mentally, and morally, that his Creator has so liberally bestowed upon him. Briefly, a man is like a mine: each one contains stores of hidden wealth, but it requires sustained, systematic exertion to get at them. Cease, therefore, deluding yourselves by saying it is not within you, but ascribe the failure to its true cause-viz., because you have lacked the intelligence and industry to discover and secure it. The best gift of parents to their children, teachers to their pupils, pastors to the young of their flocks, is to inculcate self-denial, selfgovernment, the magic power of patience; to distrust themselves, but to have no fear of the fature, but an implicit faith in results according to their deserts-a faith in honour, in principle, in the cause and effect theory for the government of the world; that constitutes the fruitful loveliness of a true religious faith, and which alone can insure that enthusiasm for the accomplishment of human perfection, or demonstrate how high mankind can attain.

Be prudent in your ventures, as although to fail in a small thing does not always indicate that you will fail in a larger one, still you cannot expect the world to take the failure in the smaller as an earnest of your success in the greater. Be thrifty from conviction, from principle, from the desire to be independent of help from others; be economical and methodical with your time; think of the present, utilize it; it is the best basis for your success in the future. To live in the past, or be dreaming of what the future is to do for you, is to waste the present. Believe with me, there is no such word as "finality;" or, if there be, it is hidden in the shadows where human perfections and dreams of the philosopher lurk in hopes of a brighter day. And when, at the end of our journey of life, after climbing the steep hill of progress, and straining with great difficulty to approach the summit, we pay the debt of humanity and join the majority, we shall feel that whatever advance we have made has been worth the making, as we are leaving the work to our successors to continue with a clearer vision, and more fixity of purpose. But the higher we ascend the more we shall perceive remains to be done, the more human happiness to be accomplished, the more human progress to be attained. Do not be deterred by those who will say, I ask for the "impossible," but strive to do all that is possible; do not be discouraged by difficulty, but do your duty-work and wait hopefully. Remember, in the depth of winter, beneath all the

frost and rime, the mighty work of germination progresses. Everywhere, noiselessly, invisibly, Nature's mysterious forces are active, weaving their wondrous tissues, getting ready for the springtime that is sure to come, alike to Mother Earth and to her wearying, longing sons. Have faith, do your part, and leave the rest to God. It is so sad a sight, so many sacrificing their lives because, through their impatience, their want of earnestness, their want of trust, we find that when the bright season is too long delayed, instead of joy at its coming, from too many a despairing heart the cry bursts forth, "Too late! too late!" It is false; it is never too late, whilst life remains to us; we can do the best with what we have; and it is on this earnest desire to do our duty, and make the best use of our talents, that all happiness and real progress depends. Man's destiny is "progressive civilization."

66

There can be no progress by people or nations without obedience to the law of healthy development of the best part of our nature; a steady, persistent struggle after "more light;" the earnest desire for "truth;" an invincible determination to leave the world better than we found it; an onward and upward progress achieved by a knowledge of the laws that cause success, and faithful observance thereof. The philosophy based upon cause and effect" suits all ages, all climes; it satisfies and stimulates. The point which yesterday was invisible is its goal to-day, and will be its starting-point to-morrow. It is a creed that ever urges mankind on, which never rests, which has never attained its ideal, which is never perfect; as its aim is " for ever and aye progressing. Its belief is, that there is nothing in human affairs that men deem impossible that may not come to pass; nothing that has been done by the elite of men but that all men might do; nothing that has once occurred that may not reproduce itself again. It has become essential for the further progress of mankind that they be taught to perceive the regular action of eternal principles, be trained to perceive that "all effects are due to causes." Let every individual work with an end in view, the resolve to acquire "property" by his own labour and thrift.

"To catch Dame Fortune's golden smile,

Assiduous wait upon her,

And gather gear by every wile

That's justified by honour;
Not for to hide it in a hedge
Or for a train attendant,
But for the glorious privilege
Of being independent."

progress,"

BUSINESS.

"Blessed is the man that hath found work: he hath a life purpose."

CARLYLE.

BUSINESS is a wide term, comprehending nearly every avocation man is engaged in. A man's business is his occupation; commercially, it is applied to all men engaged in supplying the wants of their fellowmen-from the merchant prince, importing and exporting all products, to the costermonger. This book is not intended to supply any technical knowledge of any particular business-the object is rather to demonstrate the importance of certain qualities which constitute the "true business man," enabling him, if not to succeed, to avoid failure; and also pointing out the importance of doing business in a truthful, straightforward manner. These qualities well considered will give you ideas and principles-a kind of chart and compass for all business men to regulate the helm of their conduct by. These well understood, the earnest man in any trade will soon ascertain how to apply, alter, or modify his conduct as employer or employed. For instance, if you are impressed by the importance of "not over-buying," it will regulate your conduct and control your action when daily tempted to buy. "The instilling this principle" into your mind will do you more good than telling you to buy this or that class of goods of this or that maker. Books can only lay down theories of business; the art of applying the same to any business you must practically learn therein. The action needed in buying and selling in any and every trade will vary in the same locality, but the principles upon which the theory is based are universally applicable to all business men; and being essential in making the thorough man of business, it is surprising, in a commercial nation like ours, more attention has not been paid to the business part of education-the proper or improper action of commercial men affecting the interests and happiness of such a mass of human beings.

There is, perhaps, nothing more painful in business than the number of failures we become acquainted with, owing entirely to men starting with an imperfect knowledge of how to get or manage the business undertaken; for, as the stern, inexorable decree of nature seems to be, that we must eat or be eaten, so equally inflexible and unyielding are the laws of commerce; the one line of conduct as certainly insuring success as deviation therefrom, whether from wilfulness or ignorance, ends in failure; for, as sure as water finds its own level, any one who embarks in trade with insufficient knowledge or capital will lose his money and reputation.

To commercial men knowledge is power. The men who read and reflect must be better informed, and more fitted to climb upwards, as chances offer, than their competitors or fellow-workers who do not. Every book on trade or kindred subjects should be carefully read, more especially by youths when commencing their business life, and by all engaged in business before commencing business for themselves. "Political Economy," Freedley on Business," "The Thorough Business Man," "Self-Help," "Thrift," works on Finance, &c., are all useful in implanting, confirming, or supporting rules of conduct that will prevent failure or be productive of success.

Do not for a moment imagine you will become a thorough man of business by reading books, or following any set plan of action laid down therein; all that study can do is to prove to you the importance of pursuing a certain policy, so that in practice, if you fail, or your business does not pay, when you have been expecting the reverse, a knowledge of the laws of trade will enable you to trace the failure to your own errors, and thereby enable you to remedy the same in future. For instance, when a balance-sheet is unsatisfactory, the usual plan is to try and raise prices, and thereby undermine the business; but the commercial student, analyzing every detail, will discover that had he obeyed the laws of prudence and kept less stock, or been less extravagant, his balance would have been satisfactory; so by closer attention, never buying a piece of goods unnecessarily, more careful management, reducing the expenses, or doing a larger trade at the same expense, profit will take the place of loss, whilst the trade connection is kept intact.

It is said that

"A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."

It seems to me advisable we should pick up every crumb of knowledge that falls in our way. "Many mickles make a muckle." And when we consider the immense number of human beings who daily rise,