Stories of thrift for young Americans

Preface

One of our richest men has said: " Thrift is such a simple thing — and it means so much. It is the foundation of success in business, of contentment in the home, of standing in society." Perhaps it is because thrift is such a simple thing that so many of us have only a slight acquaintance with it. This country is full of rich and wonderful things ; and the boy and the girl, long before they are out of the grammar school, set their hearts on attaining some of these wonders as quickly as possible. They overlook the simple joys and the simple habits, not realizing that the world's treasures are obtained only by those who have first mastered the art of simple living.

The secret of simple living is thrift — thrift of time, money, body, and brain — and only upon this can the boy or the girl build securely for success. But in this, as in other things, young people must be instructed, for both the man who piles up his thousands and the man who wantonly wastes his dollars are only creatures of habit. Those who are to succeed must have the habit of thrift. The boy who, when he is fifteen years old, knows how to make his suits and his shoes last as long as possible, iv PREFACE

who wastes neither his study-time nor his play-time, who already has a bank account, however small, who takes sensible care of his health, is sure to succeed. He may not make a fortune in dollars and cents, but he will be independent and a credit to the community in which he lives.

To many persons the word "thrift" suggests only the saving of money, and those who are not earners feel that it is not for them to make thrift their motto. But the mother in the home who so plans her meals that her family gets the maximum of nourishment for the least expenditure of money and without any waste is as truly thrifty as the woman who works for wages and each month adds to her bank account. So also the boy or the girl who wastes no opportunities and guards carefully the health of the body is forming habits of thrift that will mean happiness and prosperity in the future. Children are quick to see the folly of waste once it is pointed out to them, and no child should go untaught in this important matter.

The tide of popular opinion for vocational training is running strong, and is, perhaps, the greatest single thrift factor now in operation. Training for a life-work means preventing boys and girls from wasting their lives, but even a well-trained brain and body may take a boy to failure if he has not also learned how to spend wisely and

PREFACE v

how to save. The slogan of this country in the future must be "Conservation of all our resources/' but not until each grammar-school graduate knows how to practise true thrift will the highest prosperity of the country be assured.

The parents and teachers of today have an unusual opportunity to train for efficiency the men and women of tomorrow.

Contents

PAGE

I. What Thrift Is 1

II. Saving Health 6