Page images
PDF
EPUB

joined in defiring him to speak his mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows *:

[ocr errors]

as Poor Richard fays.-How much more than is neceffary do we spend in fleep forgetting that "The Sleeping 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 most precious, wafting time muft be," as Poor Richard fays,

Friends,' fays he, the taxes are, indeed, very heavy; and, if thofe laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more cafily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more griev-the greateft prodigality;" fince, as he elfeous to fome of us. We are taxed twice as where tells us, "Loft time is never found much by our idleness, three times as much by again; and what we call time enough always our pride, and four times as much by our fol- proves little enough." Let us then up and ly: and from these taxes the commiffioners be doing, and doing to the purpose: fo by cannot cafe or deliver us by allowing an abate-diligence fhall we do more with lefs perplexity. ment. However, let us hearken to good ad-"Sloth makes all things difficult, but indufvice, and fomething may be done for us; "God helps them that help themselves," as Poor Richard fays.

I. It would be thought a hard government that fhould tax its people one-tenth part of their time to be employed in its fervice: but idlenefs taxes many of us inuch more; floth, by bringing on difeafes, a folutely fhortens life. Sloth, like ruft, confumes fafter 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,"

try all eafy; and he that rifeth late, muft trot all day, and thall fearce overtake his business 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 willing and hoping for better times? We may make thefe times better, if we beftir ourfelves. "Industry need not with, 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 Dr. Franklin, wishing to collect into one hath a trade hath an cftate; and he that hath piece all the fayings upon the following fubjects, a calling, hath an office of profit and honour," which he had dropped in the course of publishing as Poor Richard fays; but then the trade the Almanacks called Poor-Richard, introduces must be worked at, and the calling well folfather Abraham for this purpose. Hence it is, lowed, or neither the eftate nor the office will that Poor Richard is fooften quoted, and that, in enable us to pay our taxes-If we are iudufthe prefent title, he is faid to be improved.--Not-trious we thall never ftarve; for, " at the withstandingthe treke of humour in the concluding paragraph of this addrefs, Poor Richard (Saun ders) and father Abraham have proved, in America, that they are no common preachers.—And shall we, brother Englishmen, refufe good fenfe in faving knowledge, becaufs it comes from the - other file of the wate: ?

working man's houfe hunger looks in, but dares not enter." Nor will the bailiff or the confiable enter, for "induftry pays deb, while dupair increafeth them." What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy, “DuiR 2

[ocr errors]

gence 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 tomorrow, which you can do to-day.”—If you were a fervant, would you not be afhamed that a good master fhould catch you idle? Are you then your own mafter? be ashamed to catch yourself idle, when there is fo much to be done for yourself, your family, your country, and your king. Handle your tools without mittens; 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 "Conftant dropping wears away ftones and by diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable; and little strokes | fell great oaks."

Methinks I hear fome of you fay," Muft a man affords himself 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 useful; this leifure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; for, "A life of leafure and a life of lazinefs are two things. Many, without labour, would live by their wits only, but they break for want of ftock;" whereas induftry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect. Fly pleafures, and they will follow you. The diligent fpinner has a large thift; 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 overfee our own affairs with our own eyes, and not truft too much to others; for, as Poor Richard fays,

"I never faw an oft-removed tree,

Nor yet an oft-removed family,

That throve to well as those that fettled be." And again, "Three removes is as bad as a fire:" and again, "Keep thy fhop and thy thop will keep thee:" and again, "If you would have your business done, go; if not, fend." And again,

"He that by the plough would thrive,

"Not

Himself must either hold or drive." And again, "The eye of the matter will do more work than both his hands!"' and again, "Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge:" and again, to overfee workmen, is to leave thein' your purse 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 mischief; for want of a nail the fhoe was lost; for want of a fhoe the horfe was left; and for want of a horse the rider was loft," being overtaken and flain by the enemy; all for want of a little care about a horfe-thoc mail.

III. So much for induftry, my friends, and attention to one's own bufinefs; but to these we muft add frugality, if we would make our induftry more certainly fucceffful. A man may if he knows not how to fave as he gets, "keep his nofe all his life,

to

to the grindstone and die not worth a groat | long thou shalt fell thy neceffarics." And a last. A fat kitchen makes a lean will;" and,

Many eftates are spent in the getting, Since women for tea forfook spinning and knitting,

And men for punch forfook hewing and fplitting."

"If you would be wealthy, think of faving as well as of getting. The Indies have not made Spain rich, because her out-goes are greater than her in-comes."

• Away, then, with you expenfive follies, and you will not then have so much cause 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 entertainment now and then, can be no great matter; but remember, "Many a little makes a mickle." Beware of little expences; A fmall leak will fink a great hip," as Poor Richard fays; and again, Who daintics love, thall beggars prove;" and moreover, "Fools make feasts, and wife men cat 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 fold cheap, and, perhaps, they may for less than they coft; but, if you have no occafion for them, they must be dear to you. Remember what Poor Richard fays, Bay what thou hast no need of, and ere

4

again, "At a great pennyworth pause a while:" he means, that perhaps the cheapnefs is apparent only, and not real; or the bargain, by ftraitening thee in thy bufinefs, may do thee more harm than good. For in ruined by buying good pennyworths." Again, another place he fays; "Many have been "It is foolish to lay out money in a purchase 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 starved their families; "Silks and fattins, fcarlet and velvets, put out the kitchen-fire," as Poor Richard fays. These are the neceffaries of life; they can fcarcely be called the conveniences: and yet, only because they look pretty, how many want to have them -By these, and other extravagancies, 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 ftanding: 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 finall estate left them, which they knew not the getting of; they think "It is day, and will never be night:" that a little to be spent out of fo much is not worth ininding; but “ Always taking out of the, ineal-tub, and never putting in will foon come to the bottom," as Poor Richard fays; and then. "When the welk 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 says;

and, indeed, fo does he that lends to fuch people, when he goes to get it in again. Foot Dick farther advifes, and fays.

"Fond pride of drefs is fure a very curfe, Ere fancy you confult, confult your purfe." And again, "Pride is as loud a beggar as Want, and a great deal more faucy." When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy ten more, that your appearance may be all of a piece; but Poor Dick fays, "It is easier 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, as for the frog to fwell, in order to equal the

ox.

Veffels large may venture more,

But little boats fhould keep near shore."

[ocr errors]

It is, however, a folly foon punified, for, as Poor Richard fays, Pride that dines on vanity, fups on contempt;-Pride breakfafted with Plenty, dined with Poverty, and fuppod with Infamy." And, after all, of what ufe is the pride of appearance, for which fo much is rifked, fo much is fuffered? It cannot promote health, nor cafe pain; it makes no increase of merit in the perfon, it creates, envy, it haftens misfortune.

But what madness it must be to run in debt for thefe fuperflu ties? We are offered, by the terms of this fac, fix months credit: and that, perhaps, has introduced 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 afhamed to fee your creditor; you will be in fear when you speak to him; you will

make poor pitiful fncaking excufes, and, by
degrees, comes to lofe your veracity, and fink
into bafe, downright lying; for, "The fe-
cond vice is lying, the firft is running in
the fame purpose, "Lying rides upon Debt's
debt," as Poor Richard fays; and again, to
back:" whereas a free-born Englishman
ought not to be afhamed nor afraid to fee or
fpeak to any man living. But poverty often
deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. It
is hard fo, an empty bag to ftand upright."
What would you think of that prince, or of
that government, who should iffue an edit
forbidding you to drefs like a gentleman or
gentlewoman, on pain of imprisonment or fer-
vitude? Would you not fay that you were
free, have a right to drefs as you please, and
that fuch an diet 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
pleasure, 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 bar-
gain, you may, perhaps, think little of pay-
ment; but, as Poor Richard fays, "Cre-
ditors have better memories than debtors;
creditors are a fuperftitious fect, great ob
fervers 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 firft seemed fo long, will,
as it leffens, appear extremely thort: 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 yourselves

in thriving circumftances, 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, expenee is conftant and certain; and "It is eafier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel," as Poor Richard fays: So, "Rather go to bed fupperlefs, than rife in debt.

Get what you can, and what you get hold, 'Tis the tone that will turn all your lead into gold."

And when you have got the philofopher's stone, fure you will no longer complain of bad times, or the difficulty of paying taxes.

IV. This doctrine, my friends, is reafon and wisdom: but, after all, do not depend too much upon your own industry, and frugality, and prudence, though excellent things; for they may all be blafted without the bleffing of Heaven: and therefore ask that blessing 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 school, but fools will learn in no other," as Poor Richard fays, and fearce 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, the will farely rap your knuckles," as Poor Richard fays.'

Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. The people heard it, and approved the doc

trine, 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 throughly studied my Almanacks, and digefted all I had dropt on those topics during the courfe of twenty-five 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 gleanings 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 I had at first determined to buy stuff for a new coat, I went away, refolved to wear my old one a little longer. Reader, if thou wilt do the fame, thy profit will be as great as mine.-I am, as ever, thine to ferve thee.

RICHARD SAUNDERS.

$58. In Praise of Virtue.

Virtue is of intrinfic value and good defert, and of indifpenfable obligation; not the creature of will, but neceffary and immutable ;* not local or temporary, but of equal extent and antiquity with the divine mind; not a mode of fenfation, but everlafting truth; not dependent on power, but the guide of all power. Virtue is the foundation of honour and ifteem," and the fource of all beauty, order, and happinefs, in nature. It is what confers value on all the other endowments and qualities of a reafonable being, to which they ought to be abfolutely fubfervient, and without which the more eminent they are the more hideous deformities and the greater curfes they become. The ufe of it is not confined to any one ftage

« PreviousContinue »