FirstLesson
Thesonofabusinessmanhadagreedtojointhefamilybusiness,andonhisveryfirstdayatthefactoryhisfathertookhimontotheroofandsaid,"Now,myson,Iamabouttogiveyouyourfirstlessoninbusiness.Standontheedgeoftheroof."
"Ontheedge,Dad?"saidthepuzzledyouth.
"Ontheveryedge."
"Verywell,Dad,"andtheobedientsondidashewastold.
"Now,whenIsayJump!"saidhisfather,"Iwantyoutojump."
"Butit'stwenty-footdrop!"
"Myboy,"saidthefather,"youwanttolearnthebusiness,don'tyou?"
"Yes,Dad."
"Andyoutrustme?"
"Yes,Dad."
"Right,ThendoasIsay--Jump!"
Andtheboyjumped,onlytocrashpainfullytothegroundtwentyfeetbelow.Hisfatherrandownthestairstowheretheyouthwaslying,bruised,batteredandwinded.
"Now,myson,"saidthefather,"youhavejustlearnedyourfirstlessoninbusiness--NEVERTRUSTANYBODY!"