ployed in its service: But idleness taxes many of us much more; sloth, by bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens life. "Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while The used key is always bright," as Poor Richard says.- "But dost thou love life? "then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is "made of," as Poor Richard says. How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep! forgetting that, "The sleeping fox catches no poultry," and that "There will be sleeping enough in the grave," as Poor Richard says. "If Time be of all things the most precious, wasting "time must be," as Poor Richard says, "the greatest << prodigality;" since, as he elsewhere tells us, Lost "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; for by diligence we shall 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." "Drive thy business, let not that drive thee;" and 66 Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, 66 wealthy, and wise," as Poor Richard says. So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We may make these times better, if we bestir ourselves. 66 Industry need not wish," and "He that lives upon 66 hope will die fasting." "There are no gains without "pains;" then "Help hands, for I have no lands," or if I have, they are smartly taxed. "He that hath a "trade, hath an estate; and he that hath a calling, hath 66 an office of profit and honour,” as Poor Richard says; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. 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 increases them." What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy, 66 Diligence is the mother of Good-luck, "and God gives all things to industry." Then "Plow deep, while sluggards sleep, "Work while it is called to-day,* for you know not 66 to-day is worth two to-morrows," as Poor Richard says; and farther," 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 king. "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 ate in two the cable;" and " Little "strokes fell great oaks." "Must a man Methinks I hear some of you say, "afford himself no leisure?" I will tell thee, my friend, what Poor Richard says: "Employ thy time well, if "thou meanest to gain leisure," and, "Since thou_art "not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour." Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; for, "A life of leisure, and a life of laziness are two things." "Many, without labour, would live by their wits only, "but they break for want of stock," whereas industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect. "Fly plea66 sures, and they will follow you." "The diligent 66 spinner has a large shift;" and "Now I have a "sheep and a cow, every body bids me good-morrow." "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: "the night cometh, when no man can work." John ix. 4. II. 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 Poor Richard says, "I never saw an oft removed tree, "That throve so well as those that settled be." And again," Three removes are as bad as a fire;" and again," Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee;" and again," If you would have your business done,— 66 go; if not, send." And again, "He that by the plow would thrive, And again, "The eye of a master 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 oversee workmen, is to leave them your 66 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 you like,- -serve your"self." "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 "rider was lost," being overtaken and slain hy the enemy; all for want of a little care about a horseshoe-nail. III. 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. "A man may," if he knows not how to save as he gets, keep his nose all his life to the grind-stone, "and die not worth a groat at last." "A fat kitchen "makes a lean will;" 66 "Many estates are spent in the getting, "Since women for tea forsook spinning and knitting, "If you would be wealthy, think of saving 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 your expensive 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 small, 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 costly, clothes 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 small leak will sink a great "ship," as Poor Richard says; and again, " Who "dainties love, shall beggars prove;" and moreover, "Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.”* * The following passage from Deformity: an Essay. By William Hay, Esq. (2nd Edn. p. 24.) is so much to the purpose of this paragraph, that I shall give it as a Note, not only for the instruction, but also for the amusement of the reader. Speaking of Temperance, he says "I am persuaded that many might arrive at Cornaro's Age, "if they did but follow his Example. On thinking upon this Subject, I have adopted many Maxims, which to the world will 66 seem Paradoxes; as certain true Geographical Theorems do to "those, who are unacquainted with the Globe. I hold" "That "the smallest Liquors are best. That there never was a good Bowl 66 of Punch; nor a good Bottle of Champaign, Burgundy, or Claret. "That the best dinner is one Dish. That an Entertainment grows "worse in proportion as the Number of Dishes increase. That a "Fast is better than a Lord Mayor's Feast. That no Conoisseur ever understood good Eating. That no Minister of State or Am"bassador ever gave a good Entertainment. No King ever sate "down to a good table. And that the Peasant fares better than the "Prince, &c. &c. &c. Being inspired with such sentiments, what "Wonder is it if I sometimes break out into such Ejaculations. O "Temperance!" "Thou Patroness of Health! Thou Protector of "Beauty! Thou Prolonger of Life! Thou Insurer of Pleasure! "Thou Promoter of Business! Thou Guardian of the Person ! "Thou Preserver of the Understanding! Thou Parent of every "intellectual Improvement, and of every moral Virtue !" 66 Here you are all got together to this sale of fineries and nick-nacks. 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 66 ere long thou shalt sell thy necessaries." And again, "At a great penny-worth pause a while." 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 66 money in the purchase of repentance;" and yet this folly is practised every day at auctions, for want of minding the Almanack. Many a one, for the sake of finery on the back, have gone with a hungry belly, and half starved their families; "Silks and sattins, scarlets "and velvets, put out the kitchen-fire," as Poor Richard says. These are not the necessaries of life; they cau scarcely be called the conveniences; and yet only because they look pretty, how many want to have them? By these and other extravagances, the genteel are reduced to poverty, and forced to borrow of those whom they formerly despised, but who, through industry and frugality, have maintained their standing; in which case it appears plainly, that, "A ploughman on his legs is "higher than a gentleman on his knees," as Poor Richard says. Perhaps they have had a small 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 so much is not worth minding; but Al66 ways taking out of the meal-tub, and never putting "in, soon comes to the bottom," as Poor Richard says; 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 some;" for R VOL. III. 66 |