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THE

WAY TO WEALTH.

I

COURTEOUS READER,

HAVE heard, that nothing gives an author fo great pleasure, as to find his works refpectfully 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 horfe, lately, where a great number of people were collected at an auction of merchant's goods. The hour of the fale not being come, they were converfing on the badnefs of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean

old

old man, with white locks, "Pray, father, Abraham, what think you of the times? Will not thefe heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we be ever able to pay them? What would you advise us to?"-Father Abraham, ftood up, and replied, "If you would have my advice, I will give it you in fhort; "for a word to the wife is enough," as Poor Richard fays." They joined in defiring him to speak his mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows:

"FRIENDS, fays 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 eafily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to fome of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idlenefs, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; and from these

taxes the commiffioners cannot eafe or deliver us, by allowing an abatement. However, let us hearken to good advice, and fomething may be done for us; God helps them that help themfelves," as Poor Richard fays.

I. “It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people onetenth part of their time, to be employed in its fervice: but idlenefs taxes many of us much more; floth, by bringing on diseases, abfolutely fhortens life. "Sloth, like ruft, confumes fafter than labour wears, while the used key is always bright," as Poor Richard fays. "But doft thou love life, then do not fquander time, for that is the ftuff life is made of," as Poor Richard fays. How much more than is neceffary do we spend in fleep? forgetting that "The fleeping fox catches no poultry, and that there will be fleeping enough in the grave," as Poor Richard fays.

"IF time be of all things the most precious, wafting time muft be," as Poor Richard fays, "the greatest prodigality;" fince, as he elsewhere tells us, "Loft 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 purpofe; fo by diligence fhall we do more with lefs perplexity. "Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all eafy; and, he that riseth late, must trot all day, and fhall fcarce overtake his bufinefs at night; while laziness travels fo flowly, that poverty foon overtakes him. Drive thy bufinefs, let not that drive thee; and early to bed and early to rife, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wife," as Poor Richard fays.

"So what fignifies wifhing and hoping for better times? We may make these times better, if we beftir ourselves.

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Industry need not wifh, and he that

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