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n extra candle except on extra occasions。〃 These extra occasions occur； perhaps； twice a year。 In this way the good woman saves five； six； or ten dollars in that time； but the information which might be derived from having the extra light would； of course； far outweigh a ton of candles。
But the trouble does not end here。 Feeling that she is so economical in tallow candles； she thinks she can afford to go frequently to the village and spend twenty or thirty dollars for ribbons and furbelows； many of which are not necessary。 This false economy may frequently be seen in men of business； and in those instances it often runs to writing…paper。 You find good business men who save all the old envelopes and scraps； and would not tear a new sheet of paper； if they could avoid it； for the world。 This is all very well； they may in this way save five or ten dollars a year； but being so economical （only in note…paper）； they think they can afford to waste time； to have expensive parties； and to drive their carriages。
True economy consists in always making the income exceed the out…go。 Wear the old clothes a little longer if necessary； dispense with the new pair of gloves； mend the old dress； live on plainer food if need be； so that； under all circumstances； unless some unforeseen accident occurs； there will be a margin in favor of the income。 A penny here； and a dollar there； placed at interest； goes on accumulating； and in this way the desired result is attained。 It requires some training； perhaps； to accomplish this economy； but when once used to it； you will find there is more satisfaction in rational saving than in irrational spending。 Here is a recipe which I recommend； I have found it to work an excellent cure for extravagance； and especially for mistaken economy： When you find that you have no surplus at the end of the year； and yet have a good income； I advise you to take a few sheets of paper and form them into a book and mark down every item of expenditure。 Post it every day or week in two columns； one headed 〃necessaries〃 or even 〃comforts；〃 and the other headed 〃luxuries；〃 and you will find that the latter column will be double； treble； and frequently ten times greater than the former。 The real comforts of life cost but a small portion of what most of us can earn。
The foundation of success in life is good health； that is the substratum of fortune； it is also the basis of happiness。 A person cannot accumulate a fortune very well when he is sick。 He has no ambition； no incentive； no force。 Of course； there are those who have bad health and cannot help it； you cannot expect that such persons can accumulate wealth； but there are a great many in poor health who need not be so。
If； then； sound health is the foundation of success and happiness in life； how important it is that we should study the laws of health； which is but another expression for the laws of nature！ The closer we keep to the laws of nature the nearer we are to good health； and yet how many persons there are who pay no attention to natural laws； but absolutely transgress them； even against their own natural inclination。 We ought to know that the 〃sin of ignorance〃 is never winked at in regard to the violation of nature's laws； their infraction always brings the penalty。 A child may thrust its finger into the flames without knowing it will burn； and so suffers； repentance； even； will not stop the smart。 Many of our ancestors knew very little about the principle of ventilation。 They did not know much about oxygen； whatever other 〃gin〃 they might have been acquainted with； and consequently； they built their houses with little seven…by…nine feet bedrooms； and these good old pious Puritans would lock themselves up in one of these cells； say their prayers and go to bed。 In the morning they would devoutly return thanks for the 〃preservation of their lives〃 during the night； and nobody had better reason to be thankful。 Probably some big crack in the window； or in the door； let in a little fresh air； and thus saved them。
Many persons knowingly violate the laws of nature against their better impulses； for the sake of fashion。 For instance； there is one thing that nothing living except a vile worm ever naturally loved； and that is tobacco； yet how many persons there are who deliberately train an unnatural appetite； and overcome this implanted aversion for tobacco； to such a degree that they get to love it。 They have got hold of a poisonous； filthy weed； or rather that takes a firm hold of them。 Here are married men who run about spitting tobacco…juice on the carpet and floors； and sometimes even upon their wives besides。 They do not kick their wives out…of…doors like drunken men； but their wives； I have no doubt； often wish they were outside of the house。 Another perilous feature is that this artificial appetite； like jealousy； 〃grows by what it feeds on；〃 when you love that which is unnatural； a stronger appetite is created for the hurtful thing than the natural desire for what is harmless。 There is an old proverb which says that 〃habit is second nature；〃 but an artificial habit is stronger than nature。 Take； for instance； an old tobacco…chewer； his love for the 〃quid〃 is stronger than his love for any particular kind of food。 He can give up roast beef easier than give up the weed。
These remarks apply with tenfold force to the use of intoxicating drinks。 To make money； requires a clear brain。 A man has got to see that two and two make four； he must lay all his plans with reflection and forethought； and closely examine all the details and the ins and outs of business。 As no man can succeed in business unless he has a brain to enable him to lay his plans； and reason to guide him in their execution； so； no matter how bountifully a man may be blessed with intelligence； if the brain is muddled； and his judgment warped by intoxicating drinks； it is impossible for him to carry on business successfully。 How many good opportunities have passed； never to return； while a man was sipping a 〃social glass〃 with his friend！ How many foolish bargains have been made under the influence of the 〃nervine；〃 which temporarily makes its victim think he is rich。 How many important chances have been put off until to…morrow； and then forever； because the wine…cup has thrown the system into a state of lassitude； neutralizing the energies so essential to success in business。 Verily； 〃wine is a mocker。〃 The use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage is as much an infatuation as is the smoking of opium by the Chinese； and the former is quite as destructive to the success of the business man as the latter。 It is an unmitigated evil； utterly indefensible in the light of philosophy； religion or good sense。 It is the parent of nearly every other evil in our country。
The safest plan； and the one most sure of success for the young man starting in life； is to select the vocation which is most congenial to his tastes。 Parents and guardians are often quite too negligent in regard to this。 It is very common for a father to say； for example： 〃I have five boys。 I will make Billy a clergyman； John a lawyer； Tom a doctor； and Dick a farmer。〃 He then goes into town and looks about to see what he will do with