Ben, on the contrary, by being always busy, grew up strong healthy, and clever; and, though still a boy, was soon able to maintain himself.
The farmers round about were always glad of his help to tend their sheep, for Ben was never above being industrious, and though he often worked hard, Busy Ben was happier, and more cheerful, than Idle Isaac.
And so it will always be: for
“From honest labour many a blessing springs,
And health, and wealth, and happiness, it brings.”
When Ben was fifteen years old, a gentleman, who was a ship-builder, came to the village, and was so much pleased by what he heard of Busy Ben, that he apprenticed him. Ben was attentive to what he was taught, and soon became a clever workman,—for, by trying to find out the meaning of what he was doing, he was soon able to finish the work in a much better manner than he would otherwise have done.
And thus Busy Ben passed many years; the more he got on, the harder he worked; and the cleverer he became, the more pains he took to improve. At last, by industry and frugality, he was able to set up in business for himself, and still keeping on as he began, he became a rich man.
Idle Isaac had grown up, too, but was as lazy a man as he had been idle when a boy. As usual, he was never seen at work,—but was often seen idling away his time,—or in the company of boys, equally idle as himself.