forward, finds himself behind other men. for a by-path, thinks to fave ground, and The love of God prevails for ever, all he lefes it. He who ferves the public other things come to nothing. He who obliges nobody. He who keeps his firft is to give an account of himself and others, innocency efcapes a thousand fins. He must know both himself and them. A who abandons his poor kindred, God forman's love and his faith appear by his fakes him. He who is not handfome at works or deeds. In all contention put twenty, nor ftrong at thirty, nor rich at a bridle upon your tongue. In a great frost forty, nor wife at fifty, will never be handa nail is worth a horie. I went a fool to fome, ftrong, rich, nor wife. He who rethe court, and came back an afs. Keep folves on the fudden, repents at leifure. He money when you are young, that you may who rifes late lofes his prayers, and prohave it when you are old. Speak but lit- vides not well for his houfe. He who tle, and to the purpose, and you will pafs peeps through a hole may fee what will for fomebody. If you do evil, expect to vex him. He who amends his faults puts fuffer evil. Sell cheap, and you will fell himfelf under God's protection. He who as much as four others. An ill child is loves well fees things at a distance. He better fick than well. He who rifes early who hath fervants hath enemies which he in the morning hath fomewhat in his head. cannot well be without. He who pays his The gallows will have its own at last. A debts begins to make a flock. He who lie hath no legs. Women, wind, and for- gives all before he dies will need a great tune, are ever changing. Fools and wil- deal of patience. He who faid nothing ful men make the lawyers great. Never had the better of it, and had what he defign a writing till you have read it, nor fired. He who fleeps much gets but little drink water till you have feen it. Nei- learning. He who fins like a fool, like a ther is any barber dumb, nor any fongfter fool goes to hell. If you would have your very wife. Neither give to all, nor con- bufine's well done, do it yourfelf. 'Tis tend with fools. Do no ill, and fear no the wife man only who is content with harm. He doth fomething who fets his what he hath. Delay is odious, but it houfe on fire; he fcares away the rats, and makes things more fure. He is always warms himself. I fell nothing on truft till fafe who knows himself well. A good to-morrow. [Written over the hop-doors.] wife by obeying commands in her turn. The common people pardon no fault in Not to have a mind to do well, and to put any man. The fidler of the fame town it off at the prefent, are much the fame. never plays well at their feaft. Either Italy to be born in, France to live in, and rich, or hanged in the attempt. The feaft Spain to die in. He lofes the good of his is over, but here is the fool fill. To di- afflictions who is not the better for them. vide as brothers ufe to do: that which is 'Tis the most dangerous vice which looks mine is all my own, that which is yours I like virtue. 'Tis great wisdom to forget go halves in. There will be no money got all the injuries we may receive. Profpeby losing your time. He will foon be a rity is the thing in the world we ought to loft man himself who keeps fuch men com- truft the leaft. Experience without learnpany. By courtefies done to the meanest ing does more good than learning without men, you get much more than you can experience. Virtue is the best patrimony lofe. Trouble not yourfelf about news, for children to inherit. 'Tis much more it will foon grow ftale and you will have painful to live ill than to live well. An it. That which is well faid, is faid foon hearty good-will never wants time to fhew enough. When the devil goes to his itfelf. To have done well obliges us to prayers he means to cheat you. When do fo fill. He hath a great opinion of you meet with a fool, pretend bufinefs to himfelf who makes no comparison with get rid of him. Sell him for an afs at a others. He only is rich enough who hath fair, who talks much and knows little. all that he defires. The best way of inHe who buys and fells doth not feel what ftruction is to practife that which we teach he fpends. He who ploughs his land, and others. 'Tis but a little narrow foul which breeds cattle, fpins gold. He who will earthly things can pleafe. The reafon venture nothing must never get on horfe- why parents love the younger children back. He who goes far from home for a beft, is because they have fo little hopes wife, either means to cheat, or will be that the elder will do well. The dearest cheated. He who fows his land, trufts child of all is that which is dead. He in God. He who leaves the great road who is about to marry fhould confider how how it is with his neighbours. There is a much shorter cut from virtue to vice, than from vice to virtue. He is the happy man, not whom other men think, but who thinks himself to be fo. Of finful pleafures repentance only remains. He who hath much wants ftil more, and then more. The less a man fleeps the more he lives. He can never speak well who knows not when to hold his peace. The trueft content is that which no man can deprive you of. The remembrance of wife and good men inftructs as well as their prefence. 'Tis wifdom, in a doubtful cafe, rather to take another man's judgment than our own. Wealth betrays the best refolved mind into one vice or other. We are ufually the beft men when we are worst in health. Learning is wealth to the poor, an honour to the rich, and a fupport and comfort to old age. Learning procures refpect to good fortune, and helps out the bad. The mafter makes the houfe to be refpected, not the houfe the matter. The fhort and fure way to reputation, is to take care to be in truth what we would have others think us to be. A good reputation is a fecond, or half an eflate. He is the better man who comes nearest to the best. A wrong judgment of things is the most mischievous thing in the world. The neglect or contempt of riches makes a man more truly great than the poffeffion of them. That only is true honour which he gives who deferves it himself. Beauty and chastity have always a mortal quarrel between them. Look always upon life, and use it as a thing that is lent you. Civil offers are for all men, and good offices for our friends. Nothing in the world is ftronger than a man but his own paflions. When a man comes into troubles, money is one of his best friends. He only is the great learned man who knows enough to make him live well. An empty purfe and a new houfe finished make a man wife, but 'tis somewhat too late. 154. The Way to Wealth, as clearly fhewn in the Preface of an old Pennsylvanian Almanack, entitled, "Poor Richard improved." Written by Dr. Benjamin Franklin. Courteous Reader, I have heard, that nothing gives an author fo great pleasure, as to find his works refpectfully quoted by others. Judge, then, how much I must have been gra tified by an incident I am going to relate to you. I ftopped my horfe lately, where a great number of people were collected at an auction of merchants' goods. The hour of the fale not being come, they were converfing on the badnefs of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean old man, with white locks, Pray, father Abraham, what think you of the times? Will not thofe heavy taxes quite ruin the country? how fhall we be ever able to pay them? What would you advife us to?--Father Abraham flood up, and replied, If you would have my advice, I will give it you in fhort; "for a word to the wife is enough," as poor Richard fays.' They joined in defiring him to fpeak his mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows: Friends,' fays he, the taxes are, indeed, very heavy; and, if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more eafily discharge them: but we have many others, and much more grievous to fome of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; and from thefe taxes the commiffioners cannot ease or deliver us by allowing an abatement. However, let us hearken to good advice, and fomething may be done for us; God helps them that help themfelves," as Poor Richard fays. I. It would be thought a hard govern. ment that fhould tax its people one-tenth part of their time to be employed in its fervice: but idleness taxes many of us much more; floth, by bringing on difeafes, abfolutely hortens life. Sloth, like ruft, confumes faster than labour wears, while the ufed key is always bright," as Poor Richard fays." But doft thou love life, then do not fquander time, for that is the ftuff life is made of," as Poor Richards fays. How much more than is neceffary do we Dr. Franklin, wifhing to collect into one piece all the fayings upon the following fubjects, which he had dropped in the courfe of publishing the Almanacks called Poor Richard, introduces father Abraham for this purpofe. Hence it is, that Poor Richard is fo often quoted, and that, in the prefent title, he is faid to be improved.-Notwithstanding the ftroke of humour in the conclud. ing paragraph of this addrefs, Poor Richard (Saunders) and father Abraham have proved, in Ame rica, that they are no common preachers.-And hall we, brother Englishmen, refufe good fenfe and faving knowledge, because it comes from the other fide of the water? fpend in fleep! forgetting that "The fleeping fox catches no poultry, and that there will be fleeping enough in the grave," as Poor Richard fays. "If time be of all things the moft precious, wafting time muft be," as Poor Richard fays, the greatest prodigality;" fince, as he elsewhere tells us," Loft time is never found again; and what we call time enough always proves little enough." Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose: fo by diligence fhall we do more with lefs perplexity. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all eafy; and he that rifeth late muft trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his bufinefs at night; while laziness travels fo flowly, that poverty foon overtakes him. Drive thy bufinefs, let not that drive thee; and early to bed, and early to rife, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wife," as Poor Richard fays. So what fignifies wifhing and hoping for better times? We may make thefe times better, if we beftir ourselves. "Induftry need not wish, and he that lives upon hope will die fafting. There are no gains without pains; then help hands, for I have no lands," or, if I have, they are fmartly taxed. "He that hath a trade, hath an eftate; and he that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honour," as Poor Richard fays; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or neither the eftate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes.-If we are industrious we fhall never ftarve; for, "at the working man's houfe hunger looks in, but dares not enter." Nor will the bailiff or the conftable enter, for "induftry pays debts, while defpair encreaseth them." What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy, Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to induftry. Then plow deep, while fluggards fleep, and you fhall have corn to fell and to keep." Work while it is called to day, for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow. "One to-day is worth two to-morrows," as Poor Richard fays; and farther, "Never leave that till to-morrow, which you can do to-day." If you were a fervant, would you not be ashamed that a good mater fhould catch you idle? Are you then your own mafter? be ashamed to catch yourfelf idle, when there is fo much to be done for yourself, your family, your country, and your king. Handle your tools without mit tens: remember, that "The cat in gloves catches no mice," as Poor Richard fays. It is true, there is much to be done, and, perhaps, you are weak-handed; but ftick to it fteadily, and you will fee great effects; for "Constant dropping wears away ftones : and by diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable; and little ftrokes fell great oaks." Methinks I hear fome of you fay, "Muft a man afford himfelf no leifure?" I will tell thee, my friend, what Poor Richard fays; "Employ thy time well, if thou meaneft to gain leifure; and, fince thou art not fure of a minute, throw not away an hour." Leifure is time for doing fomething ufeful: this leifure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; for, “A life of leifure and a life of laziness are two things. Many, without labour, would live by their wits only, but they break for want of flock;" whereas induftry gives comfort, and plenty, and refpect. "Fly pleasures, and they will follow you. The diligent fpinner has a large fhift; and now I have a sheep and a cow, every body bids me good-morrow." II. But with our induftry we must likewife be fteady, fettled, and careful, and oversee our own affairs with our own eyes, and not trust too much to others; for, as Pcor Richard fays, "I never faw an oft-removed tree, And again, "Three removes is as bad as a fire" and again, "Keep thy fhop and "If thy fhop will keep thee:" and again, you would have your bufiness done, go; if not, fend." And again, "He that by the plough would thrive, Himieli muit either hold or drive." And again, "The eye of the mafler will do more work than both his hands:" and again, "Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge:" and again, "Not to overfee workmen, is to leave them your purfe open." Trufting too much to others care is the ruin of many; for, “In the affairs of this world, men are faved, not by faith, but by the want of it:" but a man's own care is profitable; for, "If you would have a faithful fervant, and one that you like,-ferve yourself. A little neglect may breed great milchief; for want of a nail the fhoe was loft; for want of a fhoe the horfe was lost; and for want of a horfe 3 X the the rider was loft," being overtaken and flain by the enemy; all for want of a little care about a horse-shoe nail. III. So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one's own bufinefs; but to thefe we must add frugality, if we would make our industry more certainly fucceffful. A man may, if he knows not how to fave as he gets, "keep his nofe all his life to the grindstone, and die not worth a groat at laft" A fat kitchen makes a lean will;" and, "Many eftates are spent in the getting, And men for punch forfook hewing and fplit- « If you would be wealthy, think of faving, as well as of getting. The Indies have not made Spain rich, becaufe her out-goes are greater than her in-comes." Away, then, with your expenfive follies, and you will not then have fo much caufe to complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable families; for "Women and wine, game and deceit, Make the wealth fmall, and the want great." And farther, "What maintains one vice, would bring up two children." You may think, perhaps, that a little tea, or a little punch now and then, diet a little more coftly, cloaths a little finer, and a little enter tainment now and then, can be no great matter; but remember, "Many a little makes a mickle." Beware of little expences; "A finall leak will fink a great hip," as Poor Richard fays; and again, "Who dainties love, fhall beggars prove;" and moreover, "Fools make fealts, and wife men eat them." Here you are all got together to this fale of fineries and nick-nacks. You call them goods; but, if you do not take care they will prove evils to fome of you. You expect they will be told cheap, and perhaps they may for less than they coft; Lut if you have no occafion for them, they must be dear to you. Remember what Poor Richard fays, Buy what thou haft no need of, and ere long thou fhalt fell thy neceflaries." And again, “At a great pennyworth paufe a while:" he means, that perhaps the cheapnefs is apparent only, and not real; or the bargain, by ftraitering thee in thy bufine fs, may do thee more harm than good. For in another place he fays, "Many have been Many have been ruted by buying good pennyworths." Anu, It is foolih to lay out money in X a purchafe of repentance;" and yet this folly is practifed every day at auctions, for want of minding the Almanack. Many a one, for the fake of finery on the back, have gone with a hungry belly, and half farved their families; "Silks and fattins, fcarlet and velvets, put out the kitchen-fire," as Poor Richard fays. Thefe are not the ne ceffaries of life; they can scarcely be called the conveniencies: and yet only because they look pretty, how many want to have them?-By thefe, and other extravagan cies, the genteel are reduced to poverty, and forced to borrow of those whom they formerly defpifed, but who, through induftry and frugality, have maintained their standing; in which cafe it appears plainly, that, "A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees," as Poor Richard fays. Perhaps they have had a fmall eftate left them, which they knew not the getting of; they think "It is day, and will never be night:" that a little to be fpent out of fo much is not worth minding; but "Always taking out of the meal-tub, and never putting in, foon comes to the bottom," as Poor Richard fays; and then, "When the well is dry, they know the worth of water." But this they might have known before, if they had taken his advice. "If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow fome; for he that goes a borrowing, goes a forrowing," as Poor Richard fays; and, indeed, fo does he that lends to fuch people, when he goes to get it in again. Poor Dick farther advifes, and fays, "Fond pride of drefs is fure a very curfe, Ere fancy you confult, confult your purft.” And again, « Pride is as loud a beggar as Want, and a great deal more faucy." When you have bought one fine thing, you buy ten more, that your appearance may be all of a-piece; but poor Dick fays, "k is eafier to fupprefs the first defire, than to fatisfy all that follow it." And it is as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, a for the frog to fwell, in order to equal the fuffered? It cannot promote health, nor eafe pain; it makes no increase of merit in the perfon, it creates envy, it haftens misfortune. upon But what madness it must be to run in debt for thefe fuperfluities? We are offer. ed, by the terms of this fale, fix months credit; and that, perhaps, has induced fome of us to attend it, because we cannot fpare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But, ah! think what you do when you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be a ham. ed to fee your creditor; you will be in fear when you speak to him; you will make poor pitiful fneaking excufes, and, by degrees, come to lose your veracity, and fink into bafe, downright lying; for, "The fecond vice is lying, the firft is running in debt," as Poor Richard fays; and again, to the fame purpose, " Lying rides Debt's back" whereas a free-born Eng lithman ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to fee or fpeak to any man living. But poverty often deprives a man of all fpirit and virtue. "It is hard for an empty bag to ftand upright."-What would you think of that prince, or of that government, who fhould iffue an edit forbidding you to drefs like a gentleman or gentlewoman, on pain of imprisonment or fervitude? Would you not fay that you were free, have a right to drefs as you pleafe, and that fuch an edict would be a breach of your privileges, and fuch a government tyrannical? and yet you are about to put yourself under that tyranny, when you run in debt for fuch drefs? Your creditor has authority, at his pleafure, to deprive you of your liberty, by confining you in gaol for life, or by felling you for a fervant, if you should not be able to pay him. When you have got your bargain, you may, perhaps, think little of payment; but, as Poor Richard fays, " Creditors have better memories than debtors; creditors are a fuperftitious fect, great obfervers of fet days and times." The day comes round before you are aware, and the demand is made before you are prepared to fatisfy it; or, if you bear your debt in mind, the term, which at firit feemed fo long, will, as it leffens, appear extremely fhort: Time will feem to have added wings to his heels as well as his fhoulders. "Thofe have a short Lent, who owe money to be paid at Eafter." At prefent, perhaps, you may think yourfelves in thriving circumflances, and that you can bear a little extravagance without injury; but "For age and want fave while you may, No morning-fun lafts a whole day." Gain may be temporary and uncertain; but ever, while you live, expence is conftant and certain; and 66 It is eafier to build two chimneys, than to keep one in fuel," as Poor Richard fays: So, "Rather go to bed fupperlets, than rife in debt. "Get what you can, and what you get hold, And when you have got the philofopher's flone, fure you will no longer complain of bad times, or the difficulty of paying taxes. IV. This doctrine, my friends, is reafon and wifdom: but, after all, do not depend too much upon your own indultry, and frugality, and prudence, though excellent things; for they may all be blafted without the bleffing of Heaven; and therefore, ask that blefling humbly, and be not uncharitable to thofe that at prefent feem to want it, but comfort and help them. Remember, Job fuffered, and was afterwards profperous. And now to conclude, " Experience keeps a dear fchool, but fools will learn in no other." as Poor Richard fays, and scarce in that; for it is true, "We may give advice, but we cannot give conduct." However, remember this, "They that will not be counfelled cannot be helped;" and farther, that "If you will not hear Reafon, fhe will furely rap your knuckles," as Poor Richard fays.' Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. The people heard it, and approved the doctrine, and immediately practifed the contrary, juft as if it had been a common fermon; for the auction opened, and they began to buy extravagantly. I found the good man had thoroughly ftudied my Almanacks, and digeted all I had dropt on thofe topics during the courfe of twenty-nve years. The frequent mention he made of me muft have tired any one elfe; but my vanity was wonderfully delighted with it, though I was confcious that not a tenth part of the wifdom was my own, which he afcribed to me; but rather the gleaning. that I had made of the fenfe of all ages and nations. However, I refolved to be the better for the echo of it, and though 3 X 2 I had |
