YOU can’t afford to do poor work, so, therefore, always shun it; for no
excuse or quip or quirk will square you when you’ve done it. I hired a
man to paint my cow from horntips to the udder, and she’s all blotched
and spotted now, and people view and shudder. “Who did the job?” they
always ask; and when I say, “Jim Yellow,” they cry, “When we have such a
task we’ll hire some other fellow.” And so Jim idly stands and swows bad
luck has made him nervous, for when the people paint their cows they do
not ask his service. And thus one’s reputation flows, a-skiting, here
and yonder; and wheresoe’er the workman goes, his bum renown will
wander. ’Twill face him like an evil ghost when he his best is doing,
and jolt him where it hurts the most, and still keep on pursuing. A good
renown will travel, too, from Gotham to Empory, and make you friends in
places new, and bring you cash and glory. So always do your best, old
hunks; let nothing be neglected, and you will gather in the plunks, and
live and die respected.
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