Say as little as possible about your business and about what you've
got. Don't be lavish with the I's and the my's."
"That's harder," said I. "I'm a man who has always minded his own business,
and cared for nothing else. What could I talk about, except myself?"
"Blest if I know," replied he. "Where you want to go, the last thing people
mind is their own business--in talk, at least. But you'll get on all right
if you don't worry too much about it. You've got natural independence, and
an original way of putting things, and common sense. Don't be afraid."
"Afraid!" said I. "I never knew what it was to be afraid."
"Your nerve'll carry you through," he assured me. "Nerve'll take a man
anywhere."
"You never said a truer thing in your life," said I. "It'll take him
wherever he wants, and, after he's there, it'll get him whatever he wants."
And with that, I, thinking of my plans and of how sure I was of success,
began to march up and down the office with my chest thrown out--until I
caught myself at it. That stopped me, set me off in a laugh at my own
expense, he joining in with a kind of heartiness I did not like, though I
did not venture to check him.
So ended the first lesson--the first of a long series.
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