Chapter 1

Section I. Importance of having a high standard of action.--The young should determine to rise. We may usually become what we desire to be. An anecdote. Studying the lives of eminent and useful men. 27-30

Section II. Motives to action.--A regard to our own happiness. To family and friends. To society. To country. To the will of God. The love of God, the highest motive. 31-38

Section III. Industry.--No person has a right to live without labor. Determine to labor as long as you live. Mistaken method of teaching industry. Labor in the open air. Manual labor schools. 38-43

Section IV. Economy.--False and true; Examples of the false. Time is money. Sixty minutes shown to be an hour. Economical habits. 1. Do every thing at the time. Anecdote. 2. Every thing should have its place. Examples. 43-47

Section V. Indolence.--The indolent only half human. Characteristics of an indolent man. His epitaph. 47-49

Section VI. Early Rising and rest.--He who would rise early, must _retire_ early. Morning air. Advantages of early rising. 1. Things go better through the day. 2. Morning hours more _agreeable_. 3. Danger of the _second nap_. 4. Early risers long-lived. 5. One hour's sleep before midnight worth two after. 6. Saving of _time_ and _money_. Estimates. Examples of early rising. 49-55

Section VII. Duty to Parents.--Reasons. 1. For the sake of our own reputation. 2. From love to our parents. 3. Better to _suffer_ wrong, than to _do_ wrong. 4. Nothing gained by going away. Franklin an exception to the general rule. No sight more beautiful than a well ordered and happy family. Obedience the great lesson of life. 56-59

Section VIII. Faithfulness.--Our duty to our employers. Common error of the young. Examples. The Mahratta prince. 59-61

Section IX. On Forming Temperate Habits.--Drunkenness and gluttony. Indulgence short of these Indulgences very _expensive_. Spending time at meals. Water drinkers the best guests. Temperate habits tend to health. Ecclesiasticus. Examples of rational living. Tea, coffee, soups, and all warm drinks injurious. General rules. 62-70

Section X. Suppers.--Customs of our ancestors; and of the Jews. Advantages gained by avoiding suppers. Eating-houses. 70-73

Section XI. Dress.--Its uses. Neither be first nor last in a fashion. Fondness for dress. Women not often misled by dress. 73-75

Section XII. Bashfulness and Modesty.--We _may_ be both bashful and impudent. Bashfulness injurious. Set up for just what we are, and no more. 76-78

Section XIII. Politeness and Good Breeding.--Not to be despised. In what good breeding consists. How acquired. Ten plain rules. 78-82

Section XIV. Personal Habits.--Business of the day planned in the morning. Dressing, shaving, &c. Shaving with cold water. Anecdote. 82-88

Section XV. Bathing and Cleanliness.--Connection of Cleanliness with Moral Purity. Neglect of this subject. 88-89

Section XVI. Little Things.--Not to be disregarded. Zimmerman. The world _made up_ of little things. 89-93

Section XVII. Anger, and the means of restraining it. Avoid the first steps. An error in education. Opinion of Dr. Darwin. The Quaker and the Merchant. Zimmerman's method of _overcoming_ anger. Unreasonableness of returning evil for evil. 93-99