CHAPTER XIII. MR. WALTON'S WORLDLY MAXIMS. This above all-to thine own self be true, THERE are few occupations more important or more responsible than that of a banker. Not only is his own interest and that of his family at stake, but the interest of many other persons who have intrusted their property into his hands: and what is true of banking is also true, more or less, of most other professions and employments. The Christian responsibilities of men of business are very great. It is so with the lawyer, the physician, the agent. In all these, sobriety, integrity, regularity, and attention, are duties which we owe to others as well as ourselves. Mr. Walton had several maxims respecting business, which are worth recording. One principal point with him was punctuality. "Always be punctual," said he; "without punctuality no man of business can do his duty." It is not merely for his own convenience, but for the sake of those who trust him with their concerns, that a man of business must be regular. In many affairs, punctuality will make up for the defect of more shining qualities. All men have not great talent; but all may be punctual. Activity is very desirable; but slow men may be punctual. Always answer your letters," said Mr. Walton, "by return of post." Two or three lines by return of post will be thought more of than as many pages a fortnight afterwards,-half of which are taken up with apologies for not having written sooner. This was the secret by which the Duke of Wellington got through so much business, both as commander-inchief and as prime-minister; and surely no one need despise what so great a man practised. Another rule of Mr. Walton's was, to attend to the affairs of the poorest person as carefully as to those of the highest. Ten pounds, he knew, was as important a sum to a poor man as ten thousand to many a rich one. True, it often involved him in trouble; but he considered it a point of Christian principle not to shrink from trouble when duty called him. And Mr. Walton's was no mere worldly wisdom. Worldly wisdom may enable a man to secure a reputation for ability, and even for liberality and trust-worthiness; but only Christian principle will prompt the man of business to perform those offices of charity and kindness which others would shrink from as irksome and unprofitable. It is much to the credit of medical men, that they almost universally bestow much of their attention and gratuitous advice on the poor. At the same time, I have heard them accused of not being equally ready to give pecuniary relief. Lawyers, on the other hand, are more liberal with their money, but more chary of their time. I have no doubt, however, that there are many instances in which a true Christian spirit of self-denial will prompt the medical man to bestow his money, however hardly earned; and the lawyer his time, however precious. How often will the medical man find his poor patient of medicine or advice; than able to pay a fee! more in need of food than more fit to receive relief How often is the little pro perty of the orphan or the widow heavily taxed, if not entirely swallowed up, by the rapacious agent, when an honest and charitable man of business might have given such advice and assistance as would have saved the sufferer from loss or ruin! Another constant rule with Mr. Walton was, to act in all matters of business as he would do if every man knew the whole transaction. It will often happen, that advantages may be gained in business through the simplicity or ignorance of others, and no possible blame can attach to the person who avails himself of it,—at least in the eyes of the world. Still, in strict conscience, it may be his duty, as a Christian, to forego the advantage. The following story is told of a Liverpool merchant, who was a Quaker: (why Quakers should always be accused of sly tricks, I do not know; they appear to be at least as honest as persons of other sects: however, I can only repeat the story as it was told me). The Quaker sent word to his agent in London that there was no occasion for him to insure a certain ship, for that he had heard of it. However, the agent, for his own private purposes, did not choose to attend to his employer's directions, but went immediately to the office and insured the ship, writing word back, that he regretted that the instruction had come too late, the insurance having been made that very day. “I am sorry for that," said the Quaker, very quietly, in his next letter, "for I had heard that the ship was lost." Now, we laugh at stories like this; but we ought not: "Fools [only] make a mock of sin." This deed, if true, was sinful rather than laughable. How many mercantile transactions are there that will not bear the light-at least the light of Christian truth! How many, which, though not tangible by the law, nay, countenanced by common practice, yet are ungodly, unchristian! How many transactions are there which are laughed at as good jokes, but which are entirely contrary to the godly simplicity and holiness of the Christian character! When the clever auctioneer, for instance, pretends that there is a sharp competition for the article which he is puffing off, and thanks persons in different parts of the room for their biddings, when, all the while, he is running up some unfortunate countryman, who is bidding against himself; or again, when the shrewd and cautious purchaser makes, as it were, a chance bidding, as if he cared little or nothing about it, when, all the while, he has set his whole mind on making the purchase ;—all these things are but instances of conduct which is incompatible with a spirit sanctified by the Holy Ghost, unworthy of a soul redeemed of the Lord. Is a man, then, it will be asked, to lose the benefit which he might have gained in making an advantageous purchase? Unquestionably he should. It would be a dear bargain indeed, however small the sum he gave, if he sacrificed the slightest portion of Christian honesty. I do not hesitate to say that a Christian must often submit to loss for the sake of principle: he must forego the clever bargain and worldly advantage, and be content to see others obtain them. And I cannot but think that there are several trades and callings, which it would be safer for the Christian, in the present state of the world, to avoid. Not but that some, which are supposed to involve a man in the necessity of having his wits about him, may be carried on respectably. There may be honest horse-dealers and honest auctioneers; yet it is also certain that there are occupations which are apt to lead men into practices and a line of conduct sadly inconsistent with Christian simplicity. If men did but use their wits to frustrate Satan, as they do to outwit and overreach each other, they would find their account both in present and future happiness. You shall see a shrewd fellow, whom it is impossible to take in-one who is armed at all points against the world's attacks; but this man is a very fool in the hands of the devil. He knows not that Satan has snared him like a bird in the net, and is employing him as a decoy to do his work. Alas! a clever rogue is indeed a pitiable object-a fool outwitting himself, laughing inwardly as he saws away the branch on which he is sitting. Let the cleverest and most successful speculator only think, when he comes to be on his death-bed, what will be the value of all his gains, of which he can take nothing away with him ; and surely the insignificance of worldly wealth-its mischief, when gained by questionable means, will be apparent to him. And, to take the lowest ground, roguery is unnecessary, even for the object for which it is employed. "Honesty is the best policy," after all. So it certainly had proved in the instance of our Christian Citizen. By the blessing of God, Mr. Walton had obtained a handsome fortune, without resorting to one single act of a questionable nature. All his transactions were above-board, honest, and straightforward: and there are very few indeed, who, by the same course of upright, honest, and conscientious dealing, in their several stations, may not go and do likewise. Our English Citizen was a proof of the truth of the maxim, the most religious man is the best man of business. Whatever he did, he did it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto man. He discharged the calls of business with a generous industry, employing his time and attention to the utmost for the interest of those who intrusted their affairs to his hands. He held out no delusive expectations, encouraged no extravagant ventures; but, by system, good intelligence, and despatch, was enabled to calculate his M |