262 LORD BURGHLEY'S 'TEN PRECEPTS.

X.

Be not scurrilous in conversation, nor satirical in thy jests; the one will make thee unwelcome to al company, the other pulls on quarrels, and gets the hatred of thy best friends; for suspicious jests (when any of them savour of truth) leave a bitter ness in the minds of those which are touched. And albeit I have already pointed at this inclusively, yet I think it necessary to leave it to thee as a special caution; because I have seen many so prone to quip and gird, as they would rather lose their friend than their jest. And, if perchance their boiling brain yield a quaint scoff, they will travail to be delivered of it as a woman with child. These nimble fancies are but the froth of wit.

THE

WAY TO WEALTH,

WRITTEN BY

DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

COURTEOUS READER,

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 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 be ever 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 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 :*

* Dr. Franklin, wishing to collect into one piece all the sayings upon the following subjects, which he had dropped in the course of publishing the Almanack called

Friend,' says he, the taxes are indeed very heavy; 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.

1. 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 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 "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

Poor Richard, introduced Father Abraham for this purpose. Hence it is, that Poor Richard is so often quoted Notwithstanding the stroke of humonr in the concluding paragraph of this address, Poor Richard [Saunders] and Father Abraham have proved in America, that they are no common preachers. And shall we, brother Englishmen, refuse good sense and saving knowledge, because it comes from the other side of the water?

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 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 early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise," as Poor Richard says.

So what significs wishing and hoping for better times; we may make these times better, if we bcstir ourselves. "Industry need not wish; 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. "He that hath a trade, hath an estate; and he that hath a calling, hath 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 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 increaseth them." What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy, Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry. Then plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep." Work while it is called to-day, for you know not how much you

taxes.

may be hindered to-morrow. "One to-day is worth two to-morrows,' as Poor Richard says; and far. ther, "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 steady, 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."

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 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 pleasures, and they will follow you. The diligent spinner has a large shift; and, now I have a sheep and a cow, every body bids me good-morrow."

II. But with our industry we must likewise he steady, settled, and careful, and oversee our own