Journeys Through Bookland Volume X Part 10

If the truths in this one selection are thoroughly embedded in the mind of a boy, if the traits of character here taught are made a part of him, he will be a sound man of business, a sensible head of a family and a valuable citizen in a community.

_Poor Richard's Almanac_ contains the religion of work, of economy, of prosperity. It is a manly doctrine, a clear-cut, respectable philosophy, a reasonable rule of business activity. Never more than today were the precepts needed. The whole tendency of our modern activities is against its precepts. Disaster and ruin may be seen on every hand and traced directly to the neglect or violation of those sound principles which the wise old Franklin put in such homely words.

These maxims of life and policy are not those which it is the special province of the school to teach. They are the elementary law which a boy or girl must learn in his home and see exemplified therein if they are ever to become a practical part of life's equipment.

The wisdom of the _Almanac_ is the wisdom of practical experience, the wisdom of those who have lived and worked, who have lost and won. It does not deal with the finer phases of character, but with those practical things which lead to a bread-and-b.u.t.ter success.

A boy who knows what _Poor Richard_ teaches and follows his precepts will be a business success. If a parent can grind into the character of his child these lessons of industry, simplicity, temperance and frugality he will have left a legacy more valuable a thousand times than the wealth he may have ama.s.sed, although that is reckoned by the millions.

Because of the extreme condensation of the address by Father Abraham, the following outlines have been made to enable a parent to find easily what is wanted and to present it attractively. The selection is one of those which children will not master by themselves, but one which the parent can easily make interesting if he will follow the plans given below.

a.n.a.lysis

I. (Page 409.) Taxes are heavy, but we are taxed: 1. Twice as much by our _Idleness_.

2. Three times as much by our _Pride_.

3. Four times as much by our _Folly_.

II. _Idleness_ and _Industry_. (pages 409, 411.) 1. Time wasted in doing nothing (page 409), _sloth_.

(In this connection see fable, _Industry and Sloth_, Volume I, page 300.

Consult index in _this_ volume).

2. Time wasted in _sleep_ (page 410).

3. Time wasted in _wishing_ and _hoping_ (page 411).

4. Industry lost by putting off till tomorrow (page 412).

5. Steadiness in industry wins (page 412).

III. _Folly._ (pages 414-416).

1. Of trusting to others (page 414).

2. Of neglect of small matters (page 414).

3. Of extravagance and the sensibleness of frugality (page 414).

4. Of vice (page 415).

5. Of high living (page 415).

6. Of purchasing unnecessary things (page 415).

7. Of luxury (page 416).

IV. _Pride._ (page 417).

1. Of dress (page 417).

2. In table luxuries (page 417).

3. Of appearance (page 417).

V. _The Madness of Debt._ (pages 417-420).

1. Brings shame (page 417).

2. Causes lying (page 418).

3. Destroys virtue (page 418).

4. Brings slavery (page 419).

5. Prevents success (page 420).

VI. Ask for the _Blessing of Heaven_ (page 420).

VII. Accept _Counsel_. Do not wait for _Experience_.

Following the arrangement of the a.n.a.lysis above we may group a series of typical maxims, each of which can be made the basis of one of those little fireside talks which bear so prominent a part in the recollection of every man and woman who had the blessing to be brought up in a real home where father and mother joined in a sincere effort to bring up their children to honest, earnest, successful maturity.

I. "We are taxed twice as much by our _Idleness_, three times as much by our _Pride_ and four times as much by our _Folly_."

II. _Idleness and Industry._ 1. "Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears; while the used key is always bright."

2. "The sleeping fox catches no poultry."

3. "He that lives on hope will die fasting."

4. "Industry need not wish."

5. "Have you somewhat to do tomorrow? Do it today."

6. "Three removes are as bad as a fire."

III. _Folly._ 1. "If you would have a faithful servant and one that you like, serve yourself."

2. "For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; for want of a horse the rider was lost."

3. "A fat kitchen makes a lean will."

4. "What maintains one vice would bring up two children."

5. "Who dainties love shall beggars prove."

6. "At a great pennyworth pause awhile."

7. "Silks and satins, scarlets and velvets put out the kitchen fire."

IV. _Pride._ 1. "Fond pride of dress is, sure, a very curse.

Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse."

2. "Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy."

3. "What is a b.u.t.terfly? At best He's but a caterpillar drest."

V. _The Madness of Debt._ 1. "You will be ashamed to see your creditor."

2. "Lying rides upon debt's back."

3. "It's hard for an empty bag to stand upright."

4. "Creditors have better memories than debtors."

5. "Those have short Lent who owe money to be paid at Easter."

VI. "Job suffered and was afterward prosperous."

VII. "They that won't be counselled can't be helped."

"If you will not hear reason, she'll surely rap your knuckles."

CHAPTER VI

FATHER AND SON

Properly enough, the responsibility for health and development of young children rests upon the mother, and in most families this care remains with her till the children are able to look out for themselves. However, upon the father devolves more responsibility than the mere providing for the daily need of his children. Especially is it true that the boys of a family need the personal influence of the father fully as much as that of the mother. However patient, wise and devoted a mother may be, there comes a time in every boy's life when he ought to be under the influence and subject to the control of a man. _Every boy looks to men for his models and for a time follows them blindly, in spite of the most careful training a mother can give._ Curiously enough it is often to a man other than his father that the boy looks for advice and direction. It is some other man who influences his thought and through his thought his actions and the development of his character. Even when the relations between father and son are of the closest the boy begins to look around him and often, for no other reason than the novelty of the influence, he falls under the tutelage of another to whom he gives a confidence that his father could never secure. As they enter the period of adolescence, boys will often talk on many subjects with strangers with a freedom that parents, especially fathers, can never hope to see equalled unless the most perfect confidence has existed from the earliest childhood. Those who have taught for many years and who have had growing boys in their charge know how true this fact is and try to make it of service by seeing that someone of strong character shall be at hand for the boys to lean upon. They are impressionable, these men in embryo, and will go to such lengths for persons they happen to admire and who have secured their confidence, that those who know tremble when they find evil or trifling influences gathering about their charges.