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the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity. 'Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy;' and 'He that riseth_late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night;' while 'Laziness travels so slowly, that Poverty soon overtakes him,' as Poor Richard says.

"So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times ? We may make these times better, if we bestir ourselves. 'Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hopes will die fasting.' 'He that hath a trade hath an estate; but there are no gains without pains.' If we are industrious we shall never starve; for 'At the working-man's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter.' Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, for Industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them.'

"What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy,-'Diligence is the mother of good luck.' 'Then plough deep while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell 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 says; and, further, 'Never leave that till to-morrow which you can do to-day.'

"If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle? Are you then your own master ? Be ashamed to catch yourself idle, when there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, your country, and your fellow-men. Handle your tools without mittens; remember that 'The cat in gloves catches no mice,' as Poor Richard says. It is true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak-handed; but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects; for Constant dropping wears away stones;' and 'By diligence and patience the mouse

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ate in two the cable;' and 'Little strokes fell great oaks,' as saith Poor Richard.

"II. VIGILANCE.

"But with our industry we must likewise be steady, settled, and careful, and oversee our own affairs with our own eyes, and not trust too much to others; for, as Poor Richard says, 'If you would have your business done, go; And again,

if not, send.'

And again,

"He that by the plough would thrive

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Himself must either hold or drive.'

The eye of a master will do more than both

his hands;' and again, 'Not to oversee workmen is to leave them your purse open.' Trusting too much to others' care is the ruin of many, for 'In the affairs of this world men are saved, not by faith, but by the want of it ;' but a man's own care is profitable, for 'If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.' A little neglect may breed great mischief; for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the man was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy: all for want of a little care about a horseshoe nail.

"III. FRUGALITY.

"So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one's own business; but to these we must add frugality, if we would make our industry more certainly successful. If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as of getting. The Indies have not made Spain rich, because her outgoes are greater than her incomes.

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Away, then, with your expensive follies, and you will not then have so much cause to complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable families. Remember What maintains one vice would bring up two children.' Beware of little expenses that are apt to recur: A small leak will sink a great ship,' as Poor Richard says; and again, 'Who dainties love shall beggars prove.'

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"Now you are all got together at this sale of fineries and knick-knacks. You call them goods, but if you do not take care, they will prove evils to some of you. You expect they will be sold cheap, and perhaps they may for less than they cost; but if you have no occasion for them, they must be dear to you. Remember what Poor Richard says: 'Buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessaries.' And again, At a great pennyworth pause a little.' He means that perhaps the cheapness is apparent only, and not real; or the bargain, by straitening thee in thy business, may do thee more harm than good. For in another place he says, 'Many have been ruined by buying good pennyworths.' Again, It is foolish to lay out money in a purchase of repentance;' and yet this folly is practised every day at auctions, for want of minding Poor Richard's Almanac. Many a one, for the sake of finery on the back, has gone with a hungry stomach and half starved his family. Silks and satins, scarlet and velvets, put out the kitchen fire,' as Poor Richard says. Poor Dick further

advises and says,

"Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse:

Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse.'

When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy ten more, that your appearance may be all of a piece. And it is as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich as for the frog to swell in order to equal the ox. It is, however, a folly soon punished; for, as Poor Richard says, 'Pride that dines on vanity sups on contempt.'

"You cannot be too careful to maintain your independence by living within your means: A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.' Think what you do when you run into debt: you give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor; you will be in fear when you speak to him; you will make poor, pitiful, sneaking excuses, and by degrees come to lose your veracity, and sink

into base, downright lying. Does not Poor Richard say, 'Lying rides on Debt's back'? whereas a free-born Englishman ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to see or speak to any man living. But poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue: "It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.' And so, 'Rather go to bed supperless than rise in debt.'

"If you have a little property, take care to add to it: 'Always taking out of the meal-tub, and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom.' At present, perhaps, you may think yourselves in thriving circumstances, and that you can bear a little expense without injury; but

"For age and want save while you may;
No morning sun lasts a whole day.'

"IV. CONCLUSION.

"After all, my friends, do not depend too much upon your own industry, and frugality, and prudence, though excellent things; for they may all be blasted without the blessing of Heaven; and therefore ask that blessing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it, but comfort and help them. Remember, Job suffered, and was afterwards prosperous.

"And now, to conclude: 'Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other,' as Poor Richard says; and scarce in that, for, it is true, 'We may give advice, but we cannot give conduct.' However, remember this: "If you will not hear Reason, she will surely rap your knuckles,' as Poor Richard says."

Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. The people heard it and approved the doctrine, but immediately practised the contrary, for the auction opened, and they began to buy extravagantly.

I am, as ever, thine to serve thee,

RICHARD SAUNDERS.

NIGHT THOUGHTS.

[EDWARD YOUNG, 1681-1765, is best remembered for his " 'Night Thoughts" on Life, Death, and Immortality. Most of his poetry takes a solemn turn, and was designed to elevate men's minds to the invisible and eternal. Many golden thoughts are scattered throughout his works.]

SLEEP.

TIRED Nature's sweet restorer, balmy Sleep,

He, like the world, his ready visit pays

Where fortune smiles; the wretched he forsakes ;

Swift on his downy' pinions flies from woe,

And lights on lids unsullied with a tear.

NIGHT.

Night, sable goddess! from her ebon throne,
In rayless majesty, now stretches forth
Her leaden sceptre o'er a slumb'ring world.
Silence, how dead! and darkness how profound!
Nor eye, nor list'ning ear, an object finds :
Creation sleeps. 'Tis as the general pulse
Of life stood still and nature made a pause;
An awful pause ! prophetic of her end.

The bell strikes one.

But from its loss.

Is wise in man.

TIME.

We take no note of time,
To give it then a tongue
As if an angel spoke,

I feel the solemn sound. If heard aright,

It is the knell of my departed hours:

Where are they? With the years beyond the flood.
It is the signal that demands despatch;
How much is to be done! my hopes and fears
Start up alarmed, and o'er life's narrow verge
Look down--On what! A fathomless abyss,*
A dread eternity! how surely mine.

THE MYSTERY OF MAN.

And can eternity belong to me,

Poor pensioner on the bounties of an hour?
How poor, how rich, how abject," how august,
How complicate, how wonderful, is man!

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