XV. POOR RICHARD REVIVED,

OR

REMARKS ON INDUSTRY, ATTENTION TO BUSINESS, AND FRUGALITY.

[Dr Franklin published for many years in Philadelphia an Almanac, which he called POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC, and in which he inserted various maxims and proverbs. Although these were much quoted at the time, and have not since been forgotten, yet no apology need be given for reprinting them here, as they were drawn up by the author himself in the form of a preface to one of his Almanacs.]

I HAVE heard, that nothing gives an author so great pleasure, as to find his works respectfully quoted by others. Judge, then, how much I must have been gratified by an incident I am going to relate to you. I stopped my horse lately, where a great number of people were collected, at an auction of merchants' goods. The hour of the sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness 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 these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we ever

be able to pay them? What would you advise us to ?Father Abraham stood up, and replied, If you would have my advice, I will give it to you in short, "for a word to the wise is enough," as Poor Richard says. They joined in desiring him to speak his mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows.

Friends, says 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 easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some 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 these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us, by allowing an abatement. However, let us hearken to good advice, and something may be done for us; "God helps them that help themselves," as poor Richard says.

I. It would be thought a hard government, that should tax its people one tenth part of their time, to be employed 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 labor 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 t of," as poor Richard says. How much mo do we spend in sleep! forgetting, that "the es no poultry, and that there will be sleep grave, as poor Richard says.

"If time be of all things the most pre must be," as poor Richard says, "the gre since, as he elsewhere tells us, "lost time is and what we call time enough, always pro let us then up and be doing, and doing to diligence shall we do more, with less I makes all things difficult, but industry all riseth late, must trot all day, and shall s business at night; while laziness travels so soon overtakes him. Drive thy business, thee; and early to bed, and early to rise, ma wealthy, and wise," as poor Richard says.

So what signifies wishing and hoping for may make these times better, if we bestir ou need not wish, and he that lives upon hop There are no gains without pains; then hel no lands," or if I have, they are smartly hath a trade, hath an estate; and he that h an office of profit and honor," as poor Rich the trade must be worked at, and the callin neither the estate nor the office will enable If we are industrious, we shall never sta working man's house, hunger looks in, bu Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, debts, while despair increaseth them." have found no treasure, nor has any rich legacy," diligence is the mother of good l all things to industry. Then plough dee sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and while it is called to-day, for you know not be hindered to-morrow. "One to-day is rows," as poor Richard says; and farther, till to-morrow, which you can do to-day. servant, would you not be ashamed that a g catch you idle? Are you then your own ma to catch yourself idle, when there is so m yourself, your family, your country, and y your tools without mittens; remember, that catches no mice," as poor Richard says.

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.'

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Methinks I hear some of you say, "must a man 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 labor, would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock;" whereas industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect.

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, as poor Richard says,

"I never saw an oft-removed tree,

Nor yet an oft-removed family,

That throve so well as those that settled be."

And again, "three removes is 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, go, if not, send.”
again,

"He that by the plough would thrive,
Himself must either hold or drive."

And

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 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, and for want of a shoe the horse was lost, and for want of a horse the rider was lost," being overtaken and slain by 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 grindstone, and die not worth a groat at last. A fat kitchen makes a lean will;" and

"Many estates are spent in the getting,

Since women for tea forsook spinning and knitting,

And men for punch forsook hewing and splitting.'

"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."

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." ware of little expenses; "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.'

Be

Here you are all got together to this sale of fineries and nicknacks. 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 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 penny-worths." 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 the almanac. Many a one for the sake of finery on the back, have gone with a hungry belly, and half starved their families; "silks and satins, scarlet and velvets, put out the kitchen fire," as poor Richard says. These are not the necessaries of life, they can scarcely be called the conveniencies; 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 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 it will never be night;" that a little to be spent out of so much is not worth minding; but "always 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 he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing," as poor Richard says; and indeed so does he that lends to such people, when he goes to get it again. Poor Dick farther advises, and

says,

"Fond pride of dress is sure a curse;

Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse.' And again, "pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy." When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy ten more, that your appearance may be all of a piece; but poor Dick says, it is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it;" 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.

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"Vessels large may venture more,

But little boats should keep near shore."

It is, however, a folly soon punished; for, as poor Richard says, "pride that dines on vanity, sups on contempt; pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy." And, after all, of what use is this pride of appearance, for which so much is risked, so much is suffered? It cannot promote health, nor ease pain; it makes no increase of merit in the person; it creates envy, it hastens misfortune.

credit;

But what madness must it be to run in debt for these superfluities! We are offered, by the terms of this sale, six months' and that perhaps has induced some of us to attend it, because we cannot spare 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 ashamed to see your creditor; you will be in fear when you speak to him, when you will make poor, pitiful, sneaking excuses, and by degrees come to