force and just sentiment. Thus, though a civilized nation may easily be mistaken in the choice of their admired philosopher, they never have been found long to err in their affection for a favorite epic or tragic author. But notwithstanding all our endeavors to fix a standard of taste, and reconcile the discordant apprehensions of men, there still remain two sources of variation, which are not sufficient, indeed, to confound all the boundaries of beauty and deformity, but will often serve to produce a difference in the degrees of our approbation or blame. The one is the different humors of particular men; the other, the particular manners and opinions of our age and country. The general principles of taste are uniform in human nature: where men vary in their judgments, some defect or perversion in the faculties may commonly be remarked, proceeding either from prejudice, from want of practice, or want of delicacy; and there is just reason for approving one taste, and condemning another. But where there is such a diversity in the internal frame or external situation as is entirely blameless on both sides, and leaves no room to give one the preference above the other, in that case a certain degree of diversity in judgment is unavoidable, and we seek in vain for a standard by which we can reconcile the contrary sentiments. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 1706-1790. Distinguished philosopher and statesman; born in Boston, Mass. He has been called, in an age of great men, "the greatest diplomatist of the eighteenth century." "He never spoke a word too soon; he never spoke a word too late; he never spoke a word too much; he never failed to speak the right word in the right place." THE WAY TO WEALTH. 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 the 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 66 ever be 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: "Friends," said he, "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 can not 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. "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 labor 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 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. "But with our industry we must likewise be steady, settled, and careful, and oversee our own affairs with our own eyes, and not trust too much to others; for 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. "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. Away, then, with your expensive follies, and you will not then have so much cause to complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable families. "And further: What maintains one vice would bring up two children. You may think, perhaps, that a little tea, or a little punch now and then, diet a little more costly, clothes a little finer, and a little entertainment now and then, can be no great matter; but remember, Many a little makes a mickle. Beware of little expenses: A small leak will sink a great ship, as Poor Richard says. And again: Who dainties love shall beggars prove; and, moreover, Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them. "Here you are all got together at this sale of fineries and knick-knacks. You call them goods; but, if you do not take care, they will prove evils to some of you. You expect they will be sold cheap; and perhaps they may for less than they cost: but, if you have no occasion for them, they must be dear to you. Remember what Poor Richard says: Buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessaries. And again: At a great pennyworth pause a while. He means that perhaps the cheapness is apparent only, and not real; or the bargain, by straitening thee in thy business, may do thee more harm than good. For in another place he says, Many have been ruined by buying good pennyworths. Again: It is foolish to lay out money in a purchase of repentance; and yet this folly is practiced every day at auctions for want of minding 'The Almanac.' Many a one, for the sake of finery on the back, have gone with a hungry belly, and half starved their families. Silks and satins, scarlet and velvets, put out the kitchen-fire, as Poor Richard says. "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 can not spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But, ah! think what you do when you run in debt you give to another power over your liberty. If you can not 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 nor 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 gentlewoman, 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 such tyranny when you run in debt for such dress. Your creditor has authority, at his pleasure, to deprive you of your liberty, or by confining you in jail, till you shall 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; 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. "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 all be 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." I resolved to be Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. the better for 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. A PARABLE AGAINST PERSECUTION.* 1. AND it came to pass, after these things, that Abraham sat in the door of his tent about the going-down of the sun. The substance of this beautiful parable was not original with Franklin: for Jeremy Taylor gives it as taken from the "Jews' Book," and it is traced back centuries farther. The true author is not known; but it never attracted general attention, until, in the hands of Franklin, it assumed the scriptural style. Franklin was in the habit of amusing himself by reading it to divines and others well versed in the Scriptures, and obtaining their opinions upon it, which were sometimes very diverting. 2. And, behold, a man bowed with age came from the way of the wilderness, leaning on a staff. 3. And Abraham arose and met him, and said unto him, "Turn in, I pray thee, and wash thy feet, and tarry all night; and thou shalt arise early on the morrow, and go on thy way." 4. But the man said, "Nay; for I will abide under this tree." 5. And Abraham pressed him greatly: so he turned, and they went into the tent. And Abraham baked unleavened bread; and they did eat. 6. And, when Abraham saw that the man blessed not God, he said unto him, "Wherefore dost thou not worship the most high God, Creator of heaven and earth?" 7. And the man answered, and said, "I do not worship the God thou speakest of, neither do I call upon his name; for I have made to myself a god which abideth alway in mine house, and provideth me with all things." 8. And Abraham's zeal was kindled against the man; and he arose, and fell upon him, and drove him forth with blows into the wilderness. 9. And at midnight God called unto Abraham, saying, “ Abraham, where is the stranger?" 10. And Abraham answered, and said, "Lord, he would not worship thee, neither would he call upon thy name: therefore have I driven him out from before my face into the wilderness." 11. And God said, "Have I borne with him these hundred, ninety, and eight years, and nourished him and clothed him, notwithstanding his rebellion against me, and couldst not thou, that art thyself a sinner, bear with him one night?" 12. And Abraham said, "Let not the anger of the Lord wax hot against his servant. Lo, I have sinned; lo, I have sinned: forgive me, I pray thee." 13. And Abraham arose, and went forth into the wilderness, and sought diligently for the man, and found him, and returned with him to the tent; and, when he had entreated him kindly, he sent him away on the morrow with gifts. 14. And God spake again unto Abraham, saying, "For this thy sin shall thy seed be afflicted four hundred years in a strange land: 15. "But for thy repentance will I deliver them; and they shall come forth with power, and with gladness of heart, and with much substance." THE WHISTLE. WHEN I was a child at seven years old, my friends on a holiday filled my little pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children; and, being charmed with |