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

"Many estates are spent in the getting,

Since women for tea forsook spinning and knitting,

And men for punch forsook hewing and splitting.'

"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.'

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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."

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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; 66 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."

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Here you are all got together to this sale of fineries and nicknacks. You call them goods, but if you do not take care, they will evils to some of you. prove 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 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 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 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, have 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 poverty, and forced 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 ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees," as poor Richard says. Perhaps they have had a small estate left them, which they knew not the getting of; they think "it is day, and it will never be night; " that a little to be spent out of so much is not worth minding; but "always taking out of the meal-tub, and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom," as poor Richard says; 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 a sorrowing," as poor Richard says; and indeed so does he that lends to such peōple, when he goes to get it again. Poor Dick farther advises, and says,

"Fond pride of dress is sure a curse;

Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse."

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And again, "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; but poor Dick says, "it is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it; and it is as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as for the frog to swell in order to equal the ox.

"Vessels large may venture more,

But little boats should keep near shore."

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.

But what madness must it be to run in debt for these superfluities! We are offered, by the terms of this sale, 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, when you will make poor, pitiful, sneaking excuses, and by degrees come to

lose your veracity, and sink into base, downright lying; for, "the second vice is lying; the first is running in debt," as poor Richard says; and again to the same purpose, “lying rides upon debt's back; whereas a free-born Englishman ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to see or speak to any man living. But poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. "It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright." What would you think of that prince, or of that government, who should issue an edict forbidding you to dress like a gentleman or gentlewoman, on pain of imprisonment or servitude? Would you not say, that you were free, have a right to dress as you please, and that such an edict would be a breach of your privileges, and such a government tyrannical? And yet you are about to put yourself under that tyranny, when you run in debt for such dress! your creditor has authority, at his pleasure, to deprive you of your liberty, by confining you in gaol for life, or by selling you for a servant, if you should not be able to pay him. When you have got your bargain, you may, perhaps, think little of payment; but, as poor Richard says, "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; or, if you bear your debt in mind, the term, which at first seemed so long will, as it lessens, appear extremely short; time will seem to have added wings to his heels as well as his shoulders. "Those have a short Lent, who owe money to be paid at Easter." At present, perhaps, you may think yourselves in thriving circumstances, and that you can bear à little extravagance without injury; but

"For age and want save while you may,

No morning sun lasts a whole day."

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; so, "rather go to bed supperless than rise in debt."

"Get what you can, and what you get hold;

"T is 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.

IV. This doctrine, my friends, is reason and wisdom; but, after all, do not depend too much upon your own industry, and frugality, and prudence, though excellent things; for they may

all be blasted, without the blessing of Heaven; and therefore ask that blessing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it, but comfort and help them. Remember Job suffered, and was afterwards prosperous.

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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 counselled, cannot be helped; " and farther, that "if you will not hear reason, she will surely rap your knuckles," as poor Richard says.

Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. The people heard it, and approved the doctrine; and immediately practised the contrary, just as if it had been a common sermon, for the auction opened, and they began to buy extravagantly. I found the good man had thoroughly studied my almanacs, and digested all that I had dropt on those topics during the course of twenty-five years. The frequent mention he made of me must have tired any one else; but my vanity was wonderfully delighted with it, though I was conscious, that not a tenth part of the wisdom was my own, which he ascribed to me, but rather the gleanings that I had made of the sense of all ages and nations. However, I resolved to be the better for the echo of it; and, though, I had at first determined to buy stuff for a new coat, I went away, resolved to wear my old one a little longer. Reader, if thou wilt do the same, thy profit will be as great as mine.

XVI. ON THE USE OF FRUIT.

THERE are a great many opinions current with regard to the use of particular kinds of food, which are not founded in truth; and these opinions frequently contribute in no small degree to injure the health and diminish the comforts of mankind. We intend to refer at the present time to à prejudice generally entertained against the use of fruit as an article of diet. It is commonly believed that it contributes to the production of summer and autumnal diseases; especially in warm climates. That many diseases of the stomach and bowels in summer and autumn are produced by the improper use of fruit, that is, its use in improper quantity, in an unfit state, or at improper times, cannot be denied; but it is, on the other hand, undeniably true, that its proper use is, with some exceptions, rather preventive of those same diseases.

The tendency of the warm weather of summer, particularly in southern climates, is to increase the discharge of fluid from the skin, and as a natural consequence to lessen the quantity which passes off by the internal parts of the body, namely, by the bowels, with their accompanying secreting organs, and by the kidneys. The first effect therefore of the heat of summer is to produce a degree of torpidity in the stomach, liver, and bowels. Hence arise the bilious complaints, as they are called, of the latter end of spring and the beginning of summer. It is not pretended that this is the only cause, and perhaps it is not in any considerable degree the cause; but the fact is certain, that there is apt to be, at this period of the year, a torpid and inactive state of the bilious and digestive systems, whether the cause assigned for it be the right one or not.

As the season advances, a reaction takes place, and instead of this torpidity, diseases of an increased activity manifest themselves in these same organs. Hence cholera, diarrhoea, and dysentery prevail towards the latter part of summer and the beginning of autumn, and are far more severe and intractable diseases than those which have preceded; indicating that their cause has been longer in operation in the system.

Now the use of fruit we believe to be the natural remedy, intended by that Providence, which always compensates the evils which arise in the course of events, by corresponding provisions of good, to counteract that state of the system, which, from some cause or other, arises during the warmer part of the year. Thus we observe, that in proportion as the climate is warmer, the heat more intense, and the tendency to these diseases more decided, fruit is produced with greater facility; and in greater abundance. Hence in tropical countries, it requires but little cultivation; it is in fact almost the spontaneous growth of the soil; it is produced during almost the whole year; and exists in more numerous and more delicious varieties. This may be taken as an indication, that Nature, who provides nothing in vain, intended that it should constitute in these climates a large proportion of the food of man. Another circumstance which indicates the intention of Nature in the same respect, is the common preference which exists for a fruit and vegetable, over an animal diet, during the hotter months. The taste of fruit is then always grateful to the palate; and its effects upon the health of those who indulge with moderation, are generally salutary. It obviates the tendency to disease which has been before spoken of, from its supplying by its juicy texture, its slightly acescent and laxative qualities, that want of secretion and of action in the digestive organs, upon which the diseases

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