To William Vaughan, Esq.

12th April, 1836.

MY DEAR SIR,

Many thanks for your last communication. Dr. F.'s excellent maxims (more precious than gold) are engraven on my heart, with many things of far less value.

I am,

Yours most truly,

SAMUEL ROGERS.

To William Maltby, Esq. Honorary Librarian of the London Institution.

April 4th, 1836.

MY DEAR SIR,

As you sometimes dine tête-à-tête with poets and bishops, I hope you will favour an old friend with your company, tête-à-tête, though no poet or bishop. I dine at home on Saturday and alone. Bring with you your appetite and budget, and we will discuss the same, and for your dessert we will have Professor Raumer's Account of England.

With great regard,

I remain, DEAR SIR,
Yours, sincerely,

W. VAUGHAN.

To William Vaughan, Esq.

London Institution,

April 4th, 1836.

DEAR SIR,

I certainly sometimes dine with poets and bishops, but I can sincerely say that nothing delights me more than a tête-à-tête with an old friend, and I shall have great pleasure in waiting on you next Saturday.

Believe me,

Yours, very truly,

W. MALTBY.

USEFUL HINTS FOR THE LABOURER,

PUBLISHED BY

The Labourers' Friend Society.

POOR RICHARD'S ALMANACK EXEMPLified.

Poor Richard's Almanack, written by Dr. Franklin, contains a volume of useful maxims for the conduct of men in every station of life, and should be hung up in every cottage.

It begins by stating we complain of the taxes by government; but we are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; but if we lessened some of these useless taxes on ourselves, we should feel little from the others; adding, God helps them that help themselves.

These excellent maxims have been fully exemplified by the history of two men, who had nearly the same prospects of success in life, but who, from different habits, would probably have come to different ends, if the kindness of the one had not saved the other from ruin and destruction.

John Smith was industrious, prudent, and saving; read his Bible, and paid a due respect to Sundays, and had got on in the world; and when he saw he could afford it, he took unto himself a wife, for economy, comfort, and happiness.

John Careless was naturally kind-hearted, with many good qualities, and had more readiness and activity of mind and body than Smith, but was more easily led astray into bad company; with a fondness for dress, and singing a good song, he soon raised himself to be the head of the club at the Red Lion.

He became dissipated; and neglecting his business, it soon forsook him; and, by way of consolation, he took to the use of ardent spirits, to drown his cares, and, as he used to say, to keep up his spirits and to warm his body.

The landlord of the Red Lion, finding Careless a useful decoy to bring customers, permitted him to run up a score, and a double one on a Sunday at the skittle-ground; but he took special good care to add another to it for interest. The day of reckoning at last came, and the landlord threatened him if he did not pay off his debts.

Careless had become too indolent to work, and did not know what to do; but at last resolved to apply to his friend, Smith, to lend him ten pounds, although he did not know how or when he could repay the same.

Smith had a regard for Careless, whom he had known at the village day-school; and, wishing to save him from

ruin and destruction, resolved to make an experiment, and, induce him to make a promise which if he would punctually perform, he told Careless he would lend him twenty pounds on the following conditions :—

First, That he would promise to leave the club and the Red Lion; compromise with the landlord by the payment of one half his score; and lay out the remainder of the loan in clothing and tools, and he would find him in employment.

Next, That he should apply his weekly wages for food and raiment, and his savings from over-time should be honourably placed into a savings' bank to redeem his loan.

Third, That if he ever went to the club or to the Red Lion, he should, of himself, put double the amount of his score into the savings' bank; but if ever he should get intoxicated, he should tax himself trebly; and that he should hang up Poor Richard over his chimney. It should be left to his own honour to keep these regulations.

Careless was at first startled at these conditions; but an event soon happened which induced him to make the promise.

The landlord pressed for payment. Careless, with all his failings, was unwilling to go to prison, and equally disinclined to associate with thieves and house-breakers, or to be transported or hung. He consented to make the promise, and having made it, he kept it.

Careless became sober, industrious, and saving; and soon paid off his loan, and had five pounds in the savings' bank at interest.

As little habits, whether good or bad, often become greater, he soon found that the power of industry led to

independence, and that, whilst he was working, his very savings turned to gains, and that his deposits were at interest.

It gave a new turn to his mind and to his exertions. He entered his name as a member of a temperance society, and soon lost his cough and dismissed his doctor, which was a further saving. His health became restored; and he found that industry and clothing produced more food, warmth, and comfort, than all the ardent spirits at the Red Lion.

Careless called upon his friend Smith, to thank him for his loan, but still more for his friendly advice; but he had now still a further want, and wished to consult him about it. Seeing his friend Smith was well off in the world, comfortable and thriving, with a wife and children about him, he wished to follow his example, and take unto himself a wife, as he could now afford to maintain one.

That he had met with a young woman of good temper and prudent conduct, who he thought would make him happy, and whom he wished to make so; but he had determined, in his own mind, to keep the golden rule he had practised by Smith's advice—that of putting all his savings into the savings' bank, in the joint names of his wife and himself, as the surest mode of keeping from the Roaring Lion.

Careless married; became industrious and happy; and, by the prudent conduct of his wife, he brought up his children with good and virtuous habits. He became respected; and soon lost the character of Jack Careless, and became better known by the name of Careful John. W. V.