being overtaken and slain by the enemy: all for want of a little care about a horseshoe nail.

SECTION 8.

Poor Richard; or, The way to wealth continued.

To industry, and attention to our own business, we must add frugality, if we would make our industry 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."

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Many estates are spent in the getting,

Since women, for tea, forsook spinning and knitting, And men, for drink, forsook hewing and splitting." "If you would be wealthy, think of saving, as well as of getting. We cannot be rich if our out-goes are greater than our in-comes."

Away, then, with your expensive follies; and you will not have much cause to complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable families: for

"Drunkenness, gaming, 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 liquor, 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 expenses: "A small leak will sink a great ship," as Poor Richard says; and again, "Who dainties love, shall beggars prove."

You often talk of buying goods; but, if you do not

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take care, they will prove evils to some of you. They are cheap, you say; and they may be so: but if you have no occasion for them, they must be dear to you. Remember what Poor Richard says: Buy what you have no need of, and ere long you shall sell your necessaries." And again, And again, "At a great pennyworth pause a while:" he means, that perhaps the cheapness is apparent only, and not real; or the bargain, by straitening you in your business, may do you 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.

:

Many persons, for the sake of finery on the back, go with hungry bellies, and half starve their families : "Silks and satins, scarlets and velvets, put out the kitchen-fire," as Poor Richard says. These are not the necessaries of life; they can 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 it will never be night;" a little to be spent out of so much, is not worth minding: but, "If we always take out of the meal-tub, and never put in, we shall soon come to the bottom," as Poor Richard says; and, "When the well is dry, people know the worth of

water."

"If

you

would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some: for he who goes a borrowing, goes a sorrowing," as Poor Richard says; "and, indeed, so does he who lends to such people, when he

goes to get his money again." Poor Dick farther advises, and

says,

"Fond pride of dress is sure a very 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 many 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. "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, or ease pain; it makes no increase of merit in the person; it creates envy; it hastens misfortune.

But what madness it must be to run into debt for these superfluities !—Ah! 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

upright."

base, downright lying: for, "The second vice is lying, the first is running into debt," as Poor Richard says; and again, to the same purpose, "Lying rides upon Debt's back;" whereas a freeborn 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 Your creditor has authority, to deprive you of your liberty, by confining you in jail, 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 says, "Creditors have better memories than debtors." The day comes round before you are aware; and the demand is made before you are prepared to satisfy it: or, if you bear your debt. in mind, the term, which at first seemed so long, will, as it lessens, appear extremely short.

At present, perhaps, you may think yourselves in thriving circumstances, and that you can bear a little extravagance without injury: but

"For

age

and want save while you may;

No morning-sun lasts a whole day."

Gain is uncertain; but ever while you live, remember that expense is constant and certain. "It is easier to build two chimneys, than to keep one in fuel," as Poor Richard says: so, "Rather go to bed supperless, than rise in debt." "Get what you can; and what you get, hold;" honestly and fairly.

This doctrine is reason 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 blasted without the BLESSING of HEAVEN,

Therefore, ask that blessing humbly: and be not uncharitable to those who 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 scarcely in that: for it is true, we may give advice, but we cannot give conduct.” However, remember this, They who will not be counselled, cannot be helped ;" and farther, that, "If you will not hear Reason, she will surely rap your

knuckles."

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SECTION 9.

Wise sayings.

THE Jews have a saying among them, that, “He who does not bring his son up to some business, makes him a thief."

A man who gives his children a habit of industry and frugality, provides for them better than by giving them a stock of money.

A good man, even in hard times, will do much better than a bad man, in the best of times.

If our time and property, (however small that property may be,) are employed to the greatest advantage, we shall find that a fortune may be made in any situation of life; and that the poor man, who once wanted assistance himself, may become able to assist and relieve others.

Idleness is the beginning of all wickedness;-the root of all evil.

Laziness is the high road to poverty.

Idleness brings neither pleasure, honour, nor profit.
A pious man once said to a lady:
"Madam, if you

do not employ your children, the devil will,"