SEVEN
CURES FOR A LEAN PURSE
THE FIFTH CURE: MAKE
OF THY DWELLING A PROFITABLE INVESTMENT
"If
a man setteth aside nine parts of his earnings upon which to live and enjoy
life, and if any part of this nine parts he can turn into a profitable
investment without detriment to his wellbeing, then so much faster will his
treasures grow." So spake Arkad to his class at their fifth lesson.
"All
too many of our men of Babylon do raise their families in unseemly quarters.
They do pay to exacting landlords liberal rentals for rooms where their wives
have not a spot to raise the blooms that gladden a woman's heart and their
children have no place to play their games except in the unclean alleys.
"No
man's family can fully enjoy life unless they do have a plot of ground wherein
children can play in the clean earth and where the wife may raise not only
blossoms but good rich herbs to feed her family.
"To
a man's heart it brings gladness to eat the figs from his own trees and the
grapes of his own vines. To own his own domicile and to have it a place he is
proud to care for, putteth confidence in his heart and greater effort behind
all his endeavors. Therefore, do I recommend that every man own the roof that
sheltereth him and his.
"Nor
is it beyond the ability of any well intentioned man to own his home. Hath not
our great king so widely extended the walls of Babylon that within them much
land is now unused and may be purchased at sums most reasonable?
"Also
I say to you, my students, that the money lenders gladly consider the desires
of men who seek homes and land for their families. Readily may thou borrow to
pay the brickmaker and the builder for such commendable purposes, if thou can
show a reasonable portion of the necessary sum which thou thyself hath provided
for the purpose.
"Then
when the house be built, thou canst pay the money lender with the same
regularity as thou didst pay the landlord. Because each payment will reduce thy
indebtedness to the money lender, a few years will satisfy his loan.
"Then
will thy heart be glad because thou wilt own in thy own right a valuable
property and thy only cost will be the king's taxes.
"Also
wilt thy good wife go more often to the river to wash thy robes, that each time
returning she may bring a goatskin of water to pour upon the growing things.
"Thus
come many blessings to the man who owneth his own house. And greatly will it
reduce his cost of living, making available more of his earnings for pleasures
and the gratification of his desires. This, then, is the fifth cure for a lean
purse: Own thy own home"
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