Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1883 — Value of a Bank-Book. [ARTICLE]

Value of a Bank-Book.

“Farm-life ought to be improved morally; ancKtrcan be,” writes Mr. L. P. Powell, in the Independent. One method is to persuade the laborers to invest their earnings in some profitable way. >' Speaking from experience, he says, “A bank-book is a testament of value next to the Good Book in their pockets. If once induced to deposit a small sum. they are pretty sure to form a habit, “The habit of waste and indulgence, useless eatables, clothes, finery and trash, is broken up, and the man becomes a man of affairs. It is a habit at The foundation of continued prosperity, and a blessing to his future family. '-‘ “As a rule, laborers waste nearly all the earnings. It is not the dimes, but the dollars, that in the course of the summer are scattered. The whole year’s work goes for almost nothing. “The trouble is, the boys and men have no habits of accuracy in accounts; and at the close of the season are astonished to find themselves with empty wallets. “A bank-book is a teacher. Their dimes are saved, and so their dollars take care of themselves. I know of nothing more demoralizing than this habit of inaccurate expenditure. “It is sometimes advantageous to contract to pay our laborers only at the end of the summer’s engagement; but then wages are often wasted in a prolonged dissipation, or a winter of louting. “One of my young laborers, I found, held a mortgage on a house and lot. All his earnings were sharply invested. He is now a thriving business man with a good education. “Another invested in books, and went on with his studies as far as Latin. He did quite well, being now wealthy and honorable. This should be the rule, and not the exception.” A man’s accounts with himself lead him not only to habits of prudence, but quicken his conscience and educate him to look upon life’s blessings as a trust. — Youth’s Companion.