THREE GOOD LESSONS.
"ONE of my first lessons," said Mr. Sturgis, the eminent merchant, "was in 1818, when I was eleven years of age. My grandfather had a fine flock of sheep, which were carefully tended during the war of those times. I was the shepherd boy, and my business was to watch the sheep in the fields. A boy who was more fond of his book than the sheep, was sent with me, but left the work to me while he lay under the trees and read. I did not like that, and went to my grandfather and complained of it. I shall never forget the smile of the old gentleman as he said,—
"Never mind, Jonathan, my boy; if you watch the sheep, you will have the sheep.'
"What does grandfather mean by that?' I said to myself.
I don't expect to have a sheep.' I could not exactly make out in my mind what it was, but I had great confidence in him, for he was a judge, and had been in Congress, in Washington's time; so I concluded it was right, and went back contentedly to the sheep. After I got into the field, I could not keep the words out of my head.
Then I thought of my Sabbath lesson: 'Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.' I began to see through it. Never you mind who neglects his duty; be you faithful, and you will have your reward.
"I received a second lesson soon after I came to New York as a clerk to the late Lyman Reed. A merchant from Ohio who knew me, came to buy goods, and said, Make yourself so useful that they cannot do without you.' I took his meaning quicker than I did that of my grandfather.
"Well, I worked upon these two ideas until Mr. Reed offered me a partnership in the business.
The first morning after the partnership was made known, Mr. James Geery, the old tea merchant, called in to congratulate me, and he said, 'You are right now. I have only one word of advice to give you, Be careful who you walk the streets with.' That was lesson number three.
"And what valuable lessons they were!
"Fidelity in all things; doing your best to your employers; carefulness about your associates."
Let every boy take these lessons home, and study them. They are the foundationstones of character and honorable success.
—Selected.