致富之道 The Way to Wealth（2/2）
Ilength, that the people were the best judges of y rit; for they buy y works; and besides,y rables, where I a not personally known, I have frequently heard one or other of y adages repeated with “as Poor Richard says” at the end on’t; this gaveso satisfa, as it showed not only that y str were regarded, but disvered likewise so respect for y authority; and I own, that to enurage the practice of reberg ag those wise sentences, I have sotis quoted yself with great gravity.
Judge, then, how uch I t have been gratified by an t I a gog to rete to you.I sped y horse tely where a great nuber of people were llected at a vendue oods.The hour of sale not beg e, they were nversg on the badness of the tis and one of the pany called to a pold an, with white locks, “Pray, Father Abraha, what thk you of the tis? Won’t these heavy taxes quite ru the untry? How shall we be ever able to pay the? What would you adviseto?” Father Abraha stood up, and replied, “If you’d have y advice, I’ll give it to youshort, for a word to the wise is enough, and any words won’t fill a bhel, as Poor Richard says.” They joeddesirg hi to speak his d, and gatherg round hi, he proceeded as follows:
“Friends,” says he, “and neighbors, the taxes are deed very heavy, and if those id on by the governhe only ones we had to pay, we ight ore easily discharge the; but we have any others, and uch rievo to so of .We are taxed ice as uch by our idleness, three tis as uch by our pride, and four tis as uch by our folly; and fro these taxes the issioners ot ease or deliverby allog an abatent.However, lethearken to good advice, and sothg ay be done fod helps the that help theselves, as Poor Richard says,his Anack of 1733.”
“It would be thought a hard governnt that should tax its people oh part of their ti, to be eployedits service.But idleaxes any ofuch ore, if we re all that is spentabsote sloth,of nothg, with that which is spentidle eploynts, or aents, that aount to nothg.Sloth, by brgg on diseases, absotely shortens life.Sloth, like rt, ns faster than bor wears; while the ed key is always bright, as Poor Richard says.But dost thou love life, then do not squai, for that’s the stuff life is ade of, as Poor Richard says.How uch ore than is necessary do we spendsleep, fettg that the sleepg fox catches no poultry and that there will be sleepg enoughthe grave, as Poor Richard says.”
“If ti be of all thgs the ost precio, wastg ti t be, as Poor Richard says, the greatest prodigality; sce, as he elsewhere tells , lost ti is never found aga; and what we ult, but dtry all easy, as Poor Richard says; ahat riseth te t trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his bess at night; while zess travels so slowly, that poverty sooakes hi, as we readPoor Richard, who adds, drive thy bess, let not that drive thee, and early to bed, and early to rise, akes a ahy, wealthy and wise.”
“So what signifies wishg and hopg for better tis.We ay ake these tis better, if we bestir ourselves.Indtry need not wish, as Poor Richard says, ahat lives upon hope will die fastg.There are no gas without pas; then help hands, for I have no nds, or if I have, they are sartly taxed.And, as Poor Richard likewise observes, he that hath a trade hath ae; ahat hath a callg, hath an office of profit and honor; but therade t be worked at, and the hard says, at the wan’s hoe hunger looks , but dares er.Nor will the bailiff or the nstable enter, for dtry pays debts, while despair creaseth the, says Poor Richard.What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich retio you a legacy, diligence is the other of good ck, as Poor Richard says, and God gives all thgs to dtry.Then plow deep, while sggards sleep, and you shall have rn to sell and to keep, says Poor Dick.Work while it is called today, for you know not how uch you ay be hdered toorrow, which akes Poor Richard says, ooday is worth o toorrows, and farther, have you sowhat to do toorrow, do it today.If you were a servant, would you not be ashad that a good aster should catch you idle? Are you then your own aster, be ashad to catch yourself idle, as Poor Dick says.When there is so uch to be done for yourself, your faily, your untry and yracio kg, be up by peep of day; let not the sun look down and say, glorio here he lies.Handle your tools without ittens; reber that the catgloves catches no ice, as Poor Richard says.’Tis true there is uch to be done, and perhaps you are weakhanded, but stick to it steadily; and you will see great effects, for nstant droppg wears away stones, and by diligend patiehe oe ateo the cable; and little strokes fell great oaks, as Poor Richard sayshis Anack, the year I ot jt now reber.”
“Methks I hear so of you say,‘t a an afford hiself no leisure?’ I will tell thee, y friend, oor Richard says, eploy thy ti well, if thou ao ga leisure; and, sce thou art not sure of a ute, throw not away an hour.Leisure is ti f sothg eful; this leisure the diligent an will obta, but the zy an never; so that, as Poor Richard says a life of leisure and a life of zess are o thgs.Do you iage that sloth will afford you ore fort than bor?No, for as Poor Richard says, trouble sprgs fro idleness, and grievo toil fro needless ease.Many without bor, would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock.Whereas dtry gives fort, ay, and respect: fly pleasures, and they’ll follow you; the diligent spner has a rge shift; and now I have a sheep and a w, everybody bidsgood orrow; all of which is well said by Poor Richard.”