annually now a full quarter of a century, my brother authors in the same way (for what reason I know not) have ever been very sparing in their applauses; and no other author has taken the least notice of me: so that, did not my writings produce me some solid pudding, the great deficiency of praise would have quite discouraged me.

I concluded, at length, that the people were the best judges of my merit, for they buy my works; and, besides, in my rambles, where I am not personally known, I have frequently heard one or other of my adages repeated, with "As poor Richard says," at the end on't. This gave me some satisfaction, as it shewed not only that my instructions were regarded, but discovered likewise some respect for my authority; and I own, that, to encourage the practice of remembering and repeating those wise sentences, I have sometimes quoted myself with great gravity.

Judge then how much I have been gratified by an incident which 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 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 ye of the times? Won't these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we be ever able to pay for them? What would you advise us to?" Father Abraham stood up, and replied,-" If you'd have my advice, I'll give it to you in short; for a word to the wise is enough; and many words won't fill a bushel,' as poor Richard says.' They joined in desiring him to speak his mind; and, gathering round him, he proceeded as follows:

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Friends," says he, and neighbours, 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 helps themselves', as poor Richard says in his Almanac.

"It would be thought a hard government that would tax its people one-tenth part of their time, to be employed in their service; but idleness taxes many of us much more, if we reckon all that is spent in absolute sloth, or doing of nothing, with that which is spent in idle employments, or amusements that amount to nothing. Sloth, by bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens life. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while the key, often used is always bright,' as poor Richard says. 'But dost thou love life? then do not squander time, for that's 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: so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy,' as poor Richard says; 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 we read in poor Richard; who adds, Drive thy business, let not that drive thee;' and, early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.'

"So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We make these times better if we bestir ourselves. Industry needs not wish,' as poor Richard

says; and he that lives upon 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; and, (as poor Richard likewise observes,) 'He that hath a trade hath an estate, and he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honour;' 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, as poor Richard says, '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, but despair increaseth them,' says poor Richard. What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy? Diligence is the mother of good luck,' as poor Richard says; and God gives all things to industry; then plough deep while sluggards sleep, and you will have corn to sell and to keep,' says poor Dick. Work while it is called to-day; for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow; which makes poor Richard say, 'One to-day worth two

to-morrows; and, farther, Have you somewhat to do to-morrow, do it 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,' as poor Dick says. When there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, and your gracious king, be up by peep of day;

Let not the sun look down, and say, Inglorious here he lies!' 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 continual dropping wears away stones,' and 'by diligence and patience the mouse ate into the cable;' and 'light strokes fell great oaks,' as poor Richard says in his Almanac, the year I cannot just now remember.

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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; so that, as poor Richard says, 'A life of leisure and a Life of laziness are two things.' Do you imagine that sloth will afford you more comfort than labour? No; for, as poor Richard says, Troubles spring from idleness, and grievous toils from needless ease: many without labour would live by their own wits only; but they break for want of stock.' Whereas industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect. Fly pleasures, and they'll follow you; the diligent spinner has a large shift; and, now I have a sheep and a cow, every body bids me good-morrow;' all which is well said by poor Richard.

"But with our industry, we must likewise be steady, and settled, and careful, and oversee our own affairs with our own eyes, and not trust too much to athers; for as poor Richard says,

'I never saw an oft-removed tree,

Nor yet an oft-removed fami.y,

That throve so well as one 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, go; if not, send.' And again,

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

And again,The eye of the 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, as the Almanac says, 'In the affairs of the world, men are saved not by faith,

but by the want of it; but a man's own care is pro fitable; for saith poor Dick, Learning is to the studious, and riches to the careful, as well as power to the bold, and heaven to the virtuous.' And farther, If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.' And again, he adviseth to circumspection and care, even in the smallest matters, because sometimes, A little neglect may breed great mischief;' adding, 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 by the enemy, all for want of care about a horse-shoe nail.

"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,' as poor Richard says; 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, (says he, in another Almanac) think of saving, as well as of getting: the Indians have not made Spain rich, because her outgoes are greater than her incomes.'

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

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'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, die a little more costly, clothes a little finer, and a little entertainment now and then, can be no great matter;