THE MYSTERIOUS JUNIUS

one of the great exemplars in the matter of keeping a secret wrote to
his publisher: "Let all your views in life, therefore, be directed to a
solid, however moderate independence. Without it no man can be happy,
nor even honest." This celebrated sentence was written by a man who was
refusing a proffer of money for his writings (then in print) and it
should not be read as inspiring one to avarice. The vice of avarice is
more honest than envy, but is not the less unpleasant and reprehensible.
Let us suppose you are fortunate enough to have some grit and spunk
about you. At the earliest point practicable you get something to do.
Perhaps at a Fourth of July celebration your Sunday school teacher
trusts you in a booth to deal out lemonade and handle money. It is a
good beginning. Perhaps you are


ESTABLISHED BEHIND A COUNTER

in a general store and intrusted with the great secret of a cost-mark,
fully as important a secret, let me assure you, as you can buy in the
most secret of places! What spot in your character will "wear down" the
quickest? When you were little it was your toes. They were
copper-plated. Now the wear falls where copper will not protect you.
Nothing but experience will now serve as the copper did then. The first
place that "rubs" will be


YOUR TONGUE.