"Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse; Ere fancy you consult. cousult your purse." that 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 ten more, 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 suf fered? It cannot promote health, nor ease pain: it makes no increase of merit in the person; it creates envy, it hastens misfortune. But what madness must it be to run in debt for these superfluities? We are offered, by the terms of this sale, six months credit; and that, perhaps, has induced some of us to attend it, because we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without. But, ah! think what you do when you run in debt; you give 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 base downright lying; for," The second vice is lying, the first is running in debt," as Poor Richard says; and again to the same purpose," Lying rides upon Debt's back :" whereas, a free-born Englishman ought not to be ashamed or 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 upright." What would you think of that prince, or of that government, who should issue an edict forbidding you to dress like a gentleman or gentlewo man on pain of imprisonment or servitude? Would you not say that you were free, have a right to dress as you please, and that such an edict would be a breach of your privileges, and such a government tyrannical? And yet you are about to put yourself under that tyranny, when you run in debt for such dress? Your creditor has authority, at his pleasure, to deprive you of your liberty, by confining you in jail for life, or by selling you for a servant, 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; creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times." 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. Time will seem to have added wings to his heels as well as his shoulders. "Those have a short Lent, who owe money to be paid at Easter." 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 may be temporary and uncertain, but, ever while you live, expense is constant and certain; and, "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, "Tis the stone that will turn all your lead into gold. And, when you have got the philosopher's stone, sure you will no longer complain of bad times or the difficulty of paying taxes. IV. This doctrine, my friends, 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 be all blasted, without the blessing of Heaven; and, therefore, ask that blessing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those that 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 that will not be counselled cannot be helped !" and farther, that, "If you will not hear Reason, she will surely rap your knuckles," as Poor Richard says.' Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. The people heard it, and approved the doctrine,— and immediately practised the contrary, just as if it had been a common sermon; for the auction opened, and they began to buy extravagantly.-I found the good man had thoroughly studied my Almanacks, and digested all I had dropped on these topics during the course of twenty-five years. The frequent mention he made of ine must have tired any one else; but my vanity was wonderfully delighted with it, though I was conscious, that not a tenth part of the wisdom was my own, which he ascribed to me; but rather the gleanings that I had made of the sense of all ages and nations. However, I resolved to be the better for the echo of it; and, though I had at first determined to buy stuff for a new coat, I went away resolved to wear my old one a little longer. Reader, if thou wilt do the same, thy profit will be as great as mine. I am, as ever, Thine to serve thee, RICHARD SAUNDERS. THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER. BY A. POPE, ESQ. FATHER of all! in ev'ry age, By saint, by savage, and by sage, Thou great first cause, least understood, To know but this,-that Thou art good, Yet gave me, in this dark estate, Left free the human will. What conscience dictates to be done, Or warns me not to do, This, teach me more than hell to shun, What blessings thy free bounty gives, For God is paid when man receives, Yet not to earth's contracted span |