r, with all her pride, was eager for
it, for they had both sense enough to see it would be the making of
Jack. The father knew that Stock would look to the main chance; and
the mother that he would take the laboring oar, and so her darling
would have little to do. The ruling passion operated in both. One
parent wished to secure the son a life of pleasure, the other a
profitable trade. Both were equally indifferent to whatever related
to his eternal good.

Stock, however, young as he was, was too old a bird to be caught
with chaff. His wisdom was an overmatch for their cunning. He had a
kindness for Brown, but would on no account enter into business with
him. "One of these three things," said he, "I am sure will happen if
I do; he will either hurt my principles, my character, or my trade;
perhaps all." And here by-the-by, let me drop a hint to other young
men who are about to enter into partnership. Let them not do that in
haste which they may repent at leisure. Next to marriage it is a tie
the hardest to break; and next to that it is an engagement which
ought to be entered into with the most caution. Many things go to
the making such a connection suitable, safe, and pleasant. There is
many a rich merchant need not be above taking a hint in this
respect, from James Stock the shoemaker.

Brown was still unwilling to part from him; indeed he was too idle
to look out for business, so he offered Stock to work with him as a
journeyman, but this he also mildly refused. It hurt his good nature
to do so; but he reflected that a young man who has his way to make
in the world, must not only be good-natured, he must be prudent
also. "I am resolved," said he, "to employ none but the most sober,
regular young men I can get. Evil communications corrupt good
manners, and I should be answerable for all the disorders of my
house, if I knowingly took a wild, drinking young fellow into it.
That which might be kindness to one, would be injustice to many, and
therefore a sin in myself."

Brown's mother was in a great rage when she heard that her son had
stooped so low as to make this offer. She valued herself on being
proud, for she thought pride was a grand thing. Poor woman! She did
not know that it is the meanest thing in the world. It was her
ignorance which made her proud, as is apt to be the case. "You
mean-spirited rascal," she said to Jack, "I had rather follow you to
your grave, as well as I love you, than see you disgrace your