you will see great effects: for 'Constant dropping wears away stone; and by diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable; and little strokes fell great oaks.'

"Methinks I hear some of you say, 'Must a man afford himself no leisure?' I will tell thee, my friend, what Poor Richard says: Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure; and, since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour.' Leisure is time for doing something useful: this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; for, 'A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. Many without labor, would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock ;' whereas, industry gives comfort, and plenty and respect. Fly pleasures, and they will follow you. The diligent spinner has a large shift; and now I have a sheep and a cow, every body bids me good morrow.'

"II. But with our industry we must likewise be steady, settled, and careful, and over

see our own affairs with our own eyes, and not trust too much to others: for, as Poor Richard says,

I never saw an oft-removed tree,
Nor yet an oft-removed family,

That throve so well as those that settled be.'

And again, 'Three removes are as bad as 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.' And again,

He that by the plough would thrive,

Himself must either hold or drive.'

And again, The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands;' and again, 'Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge;' and again, Not to oversee workmen, is to leave them your purse open.'

"Trusting too much to other's care is the ruin of many; for, 'In the affairs of this world, men are saved, not by faith, but by the want of it' but a man's own care is pro

fitable; for if you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like-serve yourself. A little neglect may breed great 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 horse-shoe nail.

"III. 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 know not how to save as he gets, 'keep his nose all his life to the grindstone, and die not worth a groat at last. fat kitchen makes a lean will;' and,

'Many estates are spent in getting,

Since women for tea forsook spinning and knitting.
And men for punch forsook hewing and splitting.'

A

'If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as of getting. The Indies 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,

Make the wealth small, 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 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 to this sale of fineries and knick-nacks. 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

You

have no occasion for them, they may be dear to you. Remember what Poor Richard says,

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Buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessaries.' And again; At a great penny-worth 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 6 says, Many have been ruined by buying good penny-worths.' Again, 'It is foolish to lay out money in a purchase of repentance; and yet this folly is practised every day at auctions, for want of minding the Almanac. Many a one for the sake of finery on the back, has 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. These are not the necessaries of life; they can scarcely be called the conveniences; and yet, only because they look pretty, how many want to have them! By these, and other extravagancies, the genteel are reduced to po