OX THE MANAGEMENT OF MONEY. 95 



parts, but who seemed incorrigibly indolent. His father, a professional 

 man, died suddenly, leaving his widow and son utterly destitute. The 

 widow resolved to continue the education of her boy, however little he 

 had hitherto profited by it engaged herself as teacher at a school, and 

 devoted her salary to her son. From that moment the boy began to work 

 in good earnest. He saw the value of money in this world ; he resolved 

 to requite his mother to see her once more in a home of her own ; he 

 distinguished himself at school ; he obtained, at the age of sixteen, an 

 entry in a mercantile house. At the age of twenty his salary enabled him 

 to place his mother in a modest suburban lodging, to which he came home 

 every night. At the age of thirty he was a rich man, and, visiting him 

 at his villa, I admired his gardens. He said to me, simply, " I have no 

 taste for flowers myself, but my mother is passionately fond of them. I 

 date ray first step in life from my resolve to find her a home ; and the 

 invention in my business to which I owe my rise from clerk to partner 

 could never have come into my brain, and been patiently worked out, if, 

 night and day, I had not thought of my mother's delight in flowers." 



A common motive with a young man is an honest love for the girl 

 whom he desires to win as his wife. Nay, if no such girl yet has been 

 met on the earth, surely she lives for him in the cloudland of Fancy. 

 Wedlock, and wedlock for love, is the most exquisite hope in the inner- 

 most heart of every young man who labours ; it is but the profligate idlers 

 who laugh at that sacred ideal. But it is only the peasant or mechanic 

 who has the right to marry on no other capital than that which he takes 

 from nature in sinews and thews. The man whose whole condition of 

 being is in his work from day to day must still have his helpmate. He 

 finds his helpmate in one who can work like himself if hij honest industry 

 fail her. I preach to the day-labourer no cold homilies from political 

 economy. The happiness and morality of the working class necessitate 

 early marriages; and for prudent provision against the chances of illness 

 th there arc benefit clubs and societies, which must .stand in lieu 

 <>f jointure and settlement. But to men of a higher grade in this world's 

 social distinctions, Hymen must generally eontrivr to make some kind of 



with Plutus. I grant that your f>:id Amaryllis would i 

 your arm to the altar though you have not a coat to your back ; but, 

 Amaryllis may have parents who not unreasonably ask, "How, young 

 phon, can you maintain our daughter ? and if your death demolish all 

 BUT which you are now building without briek and 

 . hat roof will she lay h-r hi -a 



