PREFACE, THE object of the following book is to give the young Reader a description of the Continent of South America. For this purpose, the most authentic and recent accounts of Travellers have been consulted; and the only liberty taken with their narrative has been, that of linking them with a ficticious Personage; and also, in simplifying and condensing their observations, where they required these alterations. TRAVELS IN SOUTH AMERICA. ABOU BOUT the year 18-there lived in one of those private streets, which skirt the City of Dublin, a very honest good couple, of the name of Philips, for many years. They had been in business, having kept a Shoemaker's Shop in Corn-market, and now, in the decline of life, had retired from trade, to enjoy in quiet the fruits of honest industry. Indeed no two people were better known or respected by the whole neighbourhood than Mr. and Mrs. Philips, and many a one still lives who recollects the time where they first opened a small shop; they were then young, having but a very short time been married, but they were industrious, and the consequence was, that they soon got a share of the customers who flock into town on the market days, to sell their hay and corn, and to carry back the different ar ucles which are wanting in the country. It must not, however, be thought, that this suc cess came all at once; for better than a year, they did little more than pay their rent, (which they always did to the day,) and support themselves, though they worked early and late : patience and perseverance was their motto, and they were not discouraged, because it was necessary to struggle. They had laid down a few piain rules, to direct them, and as they may be useful to others, who like them have no stock in trade to begin busines with, but a good pair of hands, they may be briefly mentioned.-The first was, never to run into debt for any thing, however small, without a sure prospect of paying it, and that speedily. The second, never to ask mere for their goods than the just value. The third, never to make up bad work, even with the design of selling it proportionably cheap; and the fourth, always to have the work punctually ready at the time promised. Now these are simple rules and easily remembered, and yet for want of them, many a one has come to poverty. Many a man, for instance, has thought it no harm to owe the Grocer or the huxster, a few shillings for a short time; nor is there, perhaps; but then experience always shews us, that what we get on credit, we are apt to be less careful of than if we had paid ready money for it; besides which, at the best, any money that comes in, going immediately to pay for what has been long since consumed, man is somehow or other, less glad at receiving |