Page:Pleasant art of money-catching (1).pdf/17

 Let us therefore reckon, when a tradesman goes the Coffee-house or Ale-house to take a -draught, (let it be of what liquor he wills), while he is spending his twopence, smoaking and talking, he loses at least an hour of his time: and in the evening he goes to his two-penny club, and there tarries from six till ten. Now, it must be a very poor trade, if in that time he could not nave earned a shilling. And if he keeps servants, the want of his presence at home may have occasioned his losing as much as he could have gained himself. So that his spending a groat morning and night, (that is two pence each time) cannot be accounted less than the loss of 2s. 8d. a-day, which comes to 14s. a-week, and 36l. 10s. a-year, Which sum, if saved, until his oldest son arrived at 21. years of age, and so fit for marriage and to set up in trade, would have amounted to 760l 10s. They who would live so as not to want money, must avoid all such idle and needless expences and unnecessary loss of time.

But if the person complaining of the want of money, has been brought up to no trade, then let him consider to what kind of life his genius or natural disposition does most of all incline him. If he cannot find employment in his own country to suit his genius (which can scarcely be supposed in a country such as Great Britain, where arts and science are carried to the greatest perfection, and where a person of any genius, or of little genius, may find employment) let him seek his fortune abroad. He may at once satisfy his curiosity, supply his necessity, and serve his country, by going into the army or navy, and thereby have an opportunity of doing brave actions in the service of his country abroad, and there he may