"He that by the plow would thrive,

Himself must either hold or drive.'

"If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself. A little neglect may breed mischief: for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy-all for want of a little care about a horseshoe nail.'

9. "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 to the grindstone all his life, and die not worth a groat at last. A fat kitchen makes a lean will,' as Poor Richard says. Away, then, with your expensive follies, and you will not have so much cause to complain of hard times and heavy taxes.

1. Courteous, quoted, incident, grievous, commissioners, vendue, diseases, diligence, perplexity, signifies, frugality, follies.

2. Who is supposed to be telling this incident? Who was "Poor Richard"? What is a proverb? What proverbs are in this lesson? What is meant by "taxed twice as much by our idleness," etc.? How can we get 86 an abatement" of these taxes? How does idleness tax us? What is the meaning of "live by their wits"? "break for want of stock"? "keep his nose to the grindstone"?

LXI. POOR RICHARD.

PART II.

1. "What maintains one vice would bring up two children;' 'Many a little makes a mickle.' Beware of little expenses; 'A small leak will sink a great ship,' as Poor Richard says. Here you are, all got together to this sale of fineries and knickknacks. 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 be sold 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.

2. "Always taking out of the meal tub, and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom,' as Poor Richard says. 'If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some; for he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing,' as Poor Richard says; and, indeed, so does he that lends to such people, when he goes to get it again.

3. "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, that your appearance may be all of a piece. As Poor Dick says, 'It is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it.'

4. "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 suffered? It cannot promote health nor ease pain; it makes no increase of merit in the person; it creates envy; it hastens misfortune.

5. "But what madness must it be to run in debt for these superfluities. We are offered by the terms of this vendue 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 it. But, ah! think what you do when you run in debt; you give to 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, as Poor Richard says, 'The second vice is lying, the first

is running in debt.' And again, to the same purpose, Lying rides upon debt's back;' whereas a freeborn American ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to see or speak to any man living. But poverty often deprives a deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. 'It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.'

6. "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. Time will seem to have added wings to his heels as well as his shoulders. Those have a short Lent,' saith Poor Richard, 'who owe money to be paid at Easter.' At present, perhaps, you may think yourself 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.'

7. "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.

"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.

8. "And now to conclude: 'Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other,' as Poor Richard says, and scarce in that; for it is true, 'We may give advice, but we cannot give conduct.' However, remember this, 'They that will not be counseled can't be helped;' and, farther, that “If you will not hear Reason, she will surely rap your knuckles.'

9. Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. The people heard it and approved the doctrine, and immediately practiced the contrary, just as if it had been a common sermon; for the auction opened and they began to buy extravagantly.

1. Maintains, fineries, knick-knacks, straitening, contempt, superfluities, sneaking, veracity, deprives, superstitious, thriving, extravagance, temporary, philosophers, experience, counseled, harangue, doctrine, mickle.

2. What are "goods"? What is "a bargain"? Why does Want begin with a capital? Is all pride foolish? Explain the proverbs. What is meant by the "philosopher's stone"?

1.

LXII. SONGS FROM SHAKESPEARE.

Blow, blow, thou winter wind

Thou art not so unkind

As man's ingratitude;