“Well, I think they acted very meanly,” said Jacob, showing sonic anger.  “They promised father that I should have the place.”

“Are you sure about that?” asked the young friend.

“Certainly I am.  I was to go there this week.  But they sent father a note, saying they had changed their minds about a boy.”

“Perhaps,” suggested Ralph, “it you were seen going into a drinking saloons or in company with Tom Forsyth.  You remember what I said to you about preserving a good name.”

Jacob’s face colored, and his eyes fell to the ground.

“O, that’s only your guess,” he replied, tossing his head, and putting on an incredulous look; but he felt in his heart that the suggestion of Ralph was true.

It was over six months before Jacob Peters was successful in getting a place, and then he had to go into a third-rate establishment, where the opportunity for advancement was small, and where his associates were not of the best character.

The years passed on; and Ralph continued as careful as in the beginning to preserve a good name.  He was not content simply with doing right; but felt that it was a duty to himself, and to all who might, in any way be dependent on him, to appear right also.  He was, therefore, particular in regard to the company he kept and the places he visited.  Jacob, on the, contrary, continued to let inclination rather than prudence govern him in these matters.  His habits were probably as good as those of Ralph, and his business capacity fully equal.  But he was not regarded with the same favor, for he was often seen in company with young men known to be of loose morals, and would occasionally, visit billiard-saloons, tenpin-alleys, and other places where men of disreputable character are found.  His father, who observed Jacob closely, remonstrated with him occasionally as the boy advanced towards manhood; but Jacob put on an independent air, and replied that he went on the principle of being right with himself.  “You can’t,” he would say, “keep free from misjudgment, do what you will.  Men are always more inclined to think evil of each other than good.  I do nothing that I’m ashamed of.”

So he continued to go where he pleased, and to associate with whom he pleased, not caring what people might say.

It is no very easy thing for as young man to make his way in the world.  All the avenues to success are thickly crowded with men of talent, industry, and energy, and many favorable circumstances must conspire to help him who gets very far in advance.  Talent and industry are wanted in, business, but the passport of a good character must accompany them, or they cannot be made rightly available to their possessor. it is, therefore, of the first importance to preserved a good name, for this, if united with ability and industry, with double your chances of success in life; for men will put confidence in you beyond what they can in others, who do not stand so fairly in common estimation.