THE WAY TO WEALTH. BY Berhumin DR. FRANKLIN. No. 2. PUBLISHED BY THE NEW-YORK ASSOCIATION FOR IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF THE POOR. NEW-YORK: LEAVITT, TROW & CO., PRINTERS, 49 ANN-STREET. 1848. It is said the eccentric and gifted John Randolph once jumped up from his seat in Congress and exclaimed: "Mr. Speaker, I have found the philosopher's stone: it is this, pay as you go." This is one of the first great lessons in domestic economy, which every one, but especially every laboring man, should learn, that is, to live within his income—the farther within the better—and to adopt and practice the rule," pay as you go." Adopt this system and "hard times" will not trouble you. Such times, if they come, may be the easiest, for they always depress the market, and make provisions and merchandise cheaper. Keep to your business, and your business will keep you. Perseverance will remove mountains. Don't mind a dark day. However thick and dark the clouds, there is light above them. Look up and persevere. Buy nothing useless. Never get in debt as long as you can work. Spend all your money if in want, then wait a week before trying your credit. When you have earned a dollar, always lay by a quarter or a half. Keep an account of every day's wages, of every idle day, and of every expenditure. The following table will show the difference between cash and credit, in necessary family expenses. The one is an account kept by the buyer, as the articles were bought and paid for; the other is taken from the grocer's bills: The above is a moderate estimate of the difference between a running account, and having the range of the market with ready money. If the practice of having things charged is also adopted with regard to fresh meats, fruits and vegetables, in city markets, the difference will be found to be much greater. |