dies have not made Spain rich, because her outgoes are greater than her incomes.'

"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; for "Women and wine, game and deceit,

Makes the wealth fmall, and the want great." And farther, "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 coftly, cloaths 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 expences; "A fmall leak will fink a great fhip," as Poor Richard fays; and again, "Who dainties love, fhall beggars prove?" and moreover, "Fools make feasts, and wife men eat them." Here you are all got together to this fale of fineries and

nick-nacks. You call them goods; but

you

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if do not take care, they will prove evils to fome of you. You expect they will be fold cheap, and, perhaps, they may for less than they coft; but, if you have no occafion for them, they must be dear to you. Remember what Poor Richard fays, Buy what thou haft no need of, and ere long thou shalt fell thy neceffaries." And again, "At a great pennyworth paufe a while :" he means, that perhaps the cheapness is apparent only, and not real; or the bargain, by ftraitening thee in thy bufinefs, may do the more harm than good. For in another place he fays, "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 practifed every day at auctions, for want of minding the Almanack. Many a one, for the fake of finery on the back, have

gone

gone with a hungry belly, and half ftarved their families ; "Silks and fattins, fcarlet and velvets, put out the kitchen fire," as Poor Richard fays. These are not the neceffaries of life, they can scarcely be called the conveniencies and yet only because they look pretty, how many want to have them? By thefe and other extravagancies, the genteel are reduced to poverty, and forced to borrow of those whom they formerly defpifed, but who, thro' industry and frugality, have maintained their standing; in which cafe it appears plainly, that a ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees," as Poor Richard fays. Perhaps they have had a small estate left them, which they knew not the getting of: they think "It is day, and will never be night" that a little to be spent out of fo much is not worth minding; but always taking out of the meal-tub, and

never putting in, foon comes to the bottom," as Poor Richard fays; and then, "When the well is dry, they know the worth of water." But this they might have known before, if they had taken his advice. " If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow fome; for he that goes a borrowing goes a forrowing," as Poor Richard fays; and, indeed, fo does he that lends to fuch people, when he goes to get in again. Poor Dick farther advises, and fays,

"Fond pride of dress is fure a very curse;

Ere fancy you confult, confult your purse."

And again, "Pride is as loud a beggar as Want, and a great deal more faucy.” When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy ten more, that your appearance may be all of a piece; but Poor Dick fays, "It is easier to fupprefs the first defire, than to fatisfy all that follow it:" And it is as truly folly

for

for the poor to ape the rich, as for the frog to fwell, in order to equal the ox.

"Veffels large may venture more,

But little boats should keep near shore."

It is, however, a folly foon punished; for, as Poor Richard fays, "Pride that dines on vanity, fups on contempt; Pride breakfafted with Plenty, dined with Poverty, and fupped with Infamy." And, after all, of what use is this pride of appearance for which fo much is risked, so much is fuffered? It cannot promote health, nor eafe 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 fuperfluities? We are offered, by the terms of this fale, fix months credit; and that, perhaps, has induced fome of us to attend it, because we cannot fpare 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