PREFACE.

THE following work is chiefly designed to illustrate the important truth, that success in life mainly depends with every man on his industry, perseverance, and moral rectitude. "He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich" such is the maxim of divine Wisdom; while in other admonitions to the same virtue, wherein consists the great element of success, the words of inspiration partake of the character of a promise and a covenant for reward: "The hand of the diligent shall bear rule;" says Solomon, and again: "Seest thou a man diligent in his business; he shall stand before kings."

It is no less the purpose of the following pages to guide the young reader in the choice of an honourable and worthy aim for which to strive. Diligence, perseverance, firmness, and untiring self-denial, may, after all, be so directed as to be a curse to their owner instead of a blessing. The haste to be rich, and the eagerness to amass wealth, have in all ages, and never more than in our own day-proved a prolific source of selfishness, vice, and misery. The love of money has too clearly proved itself "the root of all evil," while the divine injunction has been entirely forgotten; "With all thy getting, get wisdom and get under