When you have conquered the natural inclination to be what is familiarly
known as a "smarty," there is still a greater wisdom to acquire. Avoid
hearing, where it is not absolutely necessary, anything that you will
have to keep secret. The less secrets you have the less discretion will
be necessary to protect them. After you have heard a thing from your
employer, keep it to yourself. The youth who talks about his employer's
business must have other marvelous faculties to succeed in life. He is a
Blind Tom. He plays the piano, but the wonder is how he does it. It must
be that it would hurt your feelings if you heard another merchant say of
your employer that he keeps a pretty good boy, except that


HE "BLABS A GOOD DEAL."

If you can shut up your mouth now, you can keep it shut when you get to
be Secretary of the Treasury and a whole syndicate of bankers are trying
to pump out of you whether you mean to pay off $100,000,000 of 5 per
cent bonds the next week, or merely reduce the interest 1-1/2 per cent.
If they could tell, they could make a million dollars, and unless you
have been all your life a discreet man, be assured they _will_ tell. If
your employer's rivals in business find out through you where your
people get a certain line of goods, how much is paid for it, or


THE TIME ON WHICH IT IS BOUGHT,

be assured you will never succeed either as a man in business for
yourself, or as a worker under the direction of others. Your employer
may be embarrassed and the fatal knowledge may have come into your
unlucky ears. You will hear it whispered all around you. Why? Because no