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 merchant's 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 be ever able to pay them? What would you advise us to do?"

stood up, and replied,

Father Abraham, "If you would

have my advice, I will give it you in "for a word to the wise is

short; enough," as Poor Richard says. They joined in desiring him to speak his mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows:

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"Friends, says 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 cannot 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.

I. "It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people onetenth 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 labour 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.

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"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. "Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy: and, he that riseth late, must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him. Drive thy business, let not that drive thee; and early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise," as Poor Richard says.

"So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We may make these times better, if we bestir ourselves.

lives upon hope will die fasting. There are no gains without pains: then, help hands for I have no lands," or if I have they are smartly taxed. "He that hath a trade, hath an estate; and he that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honour," as Poor Richard says; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious, we will never starve; for at the working man's house, hunger looks in, but dares not enter." Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, for

"Industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them." What, though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy, "Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry. Then plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep."