oth,
and gave him many useful hints for his going on. He warned him to go
oftener to church and seldomer to the Grayhound: put him in mind how
following the one and forsaking the other had been the ruin of their
poor master, and added the following

ADVICE TO YOUNG TRADESMEN.

Buy the best goods; cut the work out yourself; let the eye of
the master be everywhere; employ the soberest men; avoid all the
low deceits of trade; never lower the credit of another to raise
your own; make short payments; keep exact accounts; avoid idle
company, and be very strict to your word.

For a short time things went on swimmingly. Brown was merry and
civil. The shop was well situated for gossip; and every one who had
something to say, and nothing to do was welcome. Every idle story
was first spread, and every idle song first sung, in Brown's shop.
Every customer who came to be measured was promised that his shoes
should be done first. But the misfortune was, if twenty came in a
day the same promise was made to all, so that nineteen were
disappointed, and of course affronted. He never said _no_ to any
one. It is indeed a word which it requires some honesty to
pronounce. By all these false promises he was thought the most
obliging fellow that ever made a shoe. And as he set out on the
principle of underselling, people took a mighty fancy to the cheap
shop. And it was agreed among all the young and giddy, that he would
beat Stock all hollow, and that the old shop would be knocked up.

ALL IS NOT GOLD THAT GLISTENS.

After a few months, however, folks began to be not quite so fond of
the cheap shop; one found out that the leather was bad, another that
the work was slight. Those who liked substantial goods went all of
them to Stock's, for they said Brown's heel-taps did not last a
week; his new boots let in water; and they believed he made his
soles of brown paper. Besides, it was thought by most, that this
promising all, and keeping his word with none, hurt his business as
much as any thing. Indeed, I question, putting religion out of the
question, if lying ever answers, even in a political view.

Brown had what is commonly called a _good heart_; that is, he had a
thoughtless good nature, and a sort of feeling for the moment which
made him very sorry when others were in trouble. But he was not apt
to put himself to any inconvenience, nor go a step out of his way,
nor give up any pleasure to serve the best friend he had