Part 25 (1/2)
In respect to industry, he laboured incessantly Even soht to have been devoted to sleep were spent in his office at hard work
Mention being -house at the ”Merchants'
Every-night Club,” ”It will prove a failure,” said one
”Of course it will,” added another ”Two such young fellows cannot get business enough to support theeneral opinion But Dr Baird, as present, said: ”It will prove a success, for the industry of that Franklin is superior to anything I ever saw of the kind I see hiain before his neighbours are out of bed”
This remark was appreciated by the me printers with stationery, if they desired to open a shop
It was his experience, doubtless, that caused hi trades actions that affect a arded The sound of your haht, heard by a creditor, er; but if he sees you at a billiard-table, or hears your voice at a tavern, when you should be at work, he sends for his money the next day; demands it, before he can receive it, in a lump”
He also wrote: ”He that idly loses five shi+llings' worth of tiht as prudently throw five shi+llings into the sea”
One fine , after Meredith and Franklin opened a stationer's shop and bookstore, a lounger stepped in, and, after looking over the articles, inquired of the boy in attendance the price of a certain book
”One dollar,” was the answer
”One dollar,” said the lounger, ”can't you take less than that?”
”No indeed; one dollar is the price”
After waiting some time he asked: ”Is Mr Franklin at ho-office”
”I want to see hier
The shop-boy soon inforentle to see him in the shop
”Mr Franklin, what is the lowest you can take for this book?” he asked, as Franklin came in At the sa
”One dollar and a quarter,” was the reply
”One dollar and a quarter! Why, your young man asked but a dollar”
”True,” said Franklin, ”and I could have better afforded to take a dollar then, than to have been taken out of the office”
The lounger looked surprised, and rather concluded that Franklin was jesting, he said, ”Come, now, tell me the lowest you can take for it”
”One dollar and a half”
”A dollar and a half? Why, you offered it yourself for one dollar and a quarter?”
”Yes,” answered Franklin, ”and I had better have taken that price then, than a dollar and a half now”
The lounger paid the price, and went out of the shop, feeling the severity of the rebuke Such was the value he attached to his time
Franklin always ascribed his industrious habits to the frequent counsels of his father on the subject, which were generally closed by repeating the text of Scripture, ”Seest thou a s, he shall not stand before ularly fulfilled in his own case, as we shall see hereafter, for he had the honour of standing before _five_ kings, and even dined with the King of Denmark