10 '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 5 not then have so much cause to complain of hard times. and heavy taxes. 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.' 6 "Here you are all got together at 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 for less than they cost; but if you have no occasion for them, they must 15 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 20 thy business, may do thee more harm than good. For in another place he says, 'Many have been ruined by buying good pennyworths. Silks and satins, scarlet and velvets, put out the kitchen fire.' 6 "These are not the necessaries of life; they can scarcely 25 be called the conveniences; and yet, only because they look pretty, how many want to have them! By these and other extravagances the genteel are reduced to poverty and forced 6 to borrow of those whom they formerly despised, but who, through industry and frugality, have maintained their standing; in which case it appears plainly that 'A plowman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees,' as Poor Richard says. Always taking out of the meal-tub 5 and never putting in soon comes to the bottom,' 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 some; for he that goes a-borrowing goes 10 a-sorrowing,' as Poor Richard says; and, indeed, so does he that lends to such people, when he goes to get it again. 6 "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 15 cannot give conduct.' However, remember this, 'They that won't be counseled, cannot be helped;' and further, that 'If you will not hear reason, she will surely rap your knuckles.'" Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. The people 20 heard it and approved the doctrine; and immediately practiced the contrary, just as if it had been a sermon; for the auction opened, and they began to buy extravagantly. Abridged Poor Richard Poor Richard's Almanac was printed by Franklin, and his literary fame rests largely upon it. While his proverbs are not all his own, he had an ingenious way of combining his bits of practical wisdom. 10 CATILINE'S SPEECH ON HIS BANISHMENT GEORGE CROLY GEORGE CROLY (1780-1860) was an Irish writer, who for many years was also known as an eloquent pulpit orator. His Catiline was called "a splendid performance." NOTE. In 63 B.C. a conspiracy, headed by Catiline, was formed against 5 the Roman republic. When his treachery was discovered he was sentenced to banishment by the senate. Banished from Rome! what's banished, but set free Tried and convicted traitor!" Who says this? Who'll prove it at his peril on my head?. Banished? I thank you for 't. It breaks my chain! I held some slack allegiance till this hour. But now, my sword's my own. Smile on, my lords; Strong provocations, bitter, burning wrongs, Your consul's merciful. For this all thanks. Or make the infant's sinews strong as steel. This day's the birth of sorrows! This hour's work lords. For there henceforth shall sit for household gods Naked Rebellion, with the torch and ax, Making his wild sport of your blazing thrones; Catiline (căt'i lin): a famous Roman conspirator, who united great audacity and craft. He was denounced by the orator Cicero before the senate. — scoff: mock, ridicule. "Traitor": Catiline is quoting Cicero. This — trial: spoken in scorn as of an imitation. - devote: doom to evil. — proscriptions: the public offer of a reward for the head of an enemy. – Tartarus (tärta rus): the lower world; a place of punishment. 5 10 15 20 10 CLOUDS EDWARD ROWLAND SILL "O ether divine!" cried Prometheus; but he was chained supine on the rock and forced to see the sky. We who walk erect at will are apt to confine our attention to things of earth. Now and then we find a person who has 5 the habit of looking at the night skies, and mayhap knows the constellations, so that the stars are not accidental sparks to him any longer, but old friends, any one of whose faces would be missed if it were withdrawn. But who looks upward by day and sees the clouds? Some days the outlines of the clouds are all making faces at each other: merry faces, if one feels in that mood; solemn faces, if that is the masterful feeling. Why should the profiles generally be looking from right to left? Or is that only an idiosyncrasy of my own? Is it because 15 one sketches a profile on paper with the right hand, and so with the projecting points toward the left, away from the hand which would otherwise hide them? When presently we are able to sail the air it will be pleasant to make afternoon excursions among the summer 20 clouds. "Come!" one will say to his friend, "let us talk it over on the rosy southeast corner of that mother-of-pearl mountain." Or we shall bid John unpack the luncheon basket in the shade of yonder floating shelf of foamy |