The business world only knew him as a man who paid cash and exacted cash.

Taken at his fullest inventory he had "scalped" a living out of the world for which he had done but little to make happier or better.

One calamity might easily scuttle his prospects forever--for instance, a fire, or a bank failure.

And without credit it would be difficult to start over again.
By all means we must save something for the "rainy day" as we go along--and our savings can be made up of other things than actual cash in bank.

One item of our savings is the habit of _keeping up our appearances_.