years have passed and we are no longer young men and we have nothing put by.”
“I advise that you take the words of Algamish and say to yourselves, ‘A part of all I earn belongs to me.’ Say it in the morning when you first arise. Say it at noon. Say it at night. Say it each hour of every day. Say it to yourself until the words stand out like letters of fire across the sky.
Impress yourself with the idea. Fill yourself with the thought. Then take whatever portion seems wise. Let it be not less than one tenth and lay it by. Arrange your other expenditures to do this if necessary. But lay by that portion first. Soon you will realize what a rich feeling it is to have something upon which you alone have claim. As it grows it will stimulate you. A new joy of life will thrill you. Greater efforts will come to you to earn more. For of your increased earnings, will not the same percentage be also yours to keep?
Then learn to make your treasure work for you. Make it your slave. Make its children and its children’s children work for you. Invest it cautiously. Avoid frisking your principal in the hope of usurious returns. Beware the dreamer and the schemer and all who have not proven their sound judgment and dependability.
Counsel with wise men. Seek the advice of men whose daily work is handling money. Let them save you from such an error as I myself made in entrusting my money to the judgment of Azmur, the brickmaker. A small return and a safe one is far more desirable than risk.
Enjoy life while you are here. Do not overstrain or try to save too much. If one tenth of all you earn is as much as you can comfortably keep, be content to keep this portion. Live otherwise according to your income and let not yourself get niggardly and afraid to—14—
