The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1905-06-22
THE WAY
TO WEALTH.
Some Observations on the
Subject By Poor
Richard.
Some Observations on the
ny BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

that nothing gives an author so
great pleasure as to find his works
respectfully quoted by Others. Judge,
then, how much | must have been
gratitied by an incident am going
TO relate to you.
stopped my horses, lately, where
a great number Of people were col.
lected at an auction OF merchants
goods. The hour OF the sale not be.
ing come, they were conversing on
the badness Of the times, and one OF
the company called to plain, clean
old man with white locks: "Pray,
Father Abraham, what think you OF
the times? viii not these heavy
taxes quite ruin the country? How
shall We ever be able to pay them?
What would you advise us to doc'
Father Abraham stood up and re-
piled: al you would have my ad-
vice, | will give 1t to you in short, for
"a word to the wise Is enough as
Poor Richard says" They Joined in
desiring him to speak his mind, and,
gathering around him, he proceeded
as follows: Friends" said he, "the
taxes are indeed very heavy; and, II
those laid on by the government we're
the only ones we had to pay, we
might more easily discharge them;
but We have many others, and much
more grievous to some OF US.
eve are taxed twice as much by
our idleness, three times as much by
our pride, and four times as much by
our folly; and OF these taxes the com.
missioners cannot easer or deliver US
by allowing an abatement. How
ever, let us hearken to good advice,
and something may be done for US.
Heaven helps them that help them.
selves, as Poor Richard says.
ut would be thought a hard gov.
eminent that should tax it's people
one-tenth part OF their time to be
employed In it's service; but idleness
taxes many of US much more; sloth,
by bringing on diseases, absolutely
shortens lie. 'Sloth, like rust, con-
sumes faster than labor wears; while
the used key is always bright" as
Poor Richard says. How much more
than is necessary do We spend in
sleep. forgetting that the sleeping
fox catches no poultry, and that
there will be sleeping enough in the
grave.
Lost time is never found again,
and what we call time enough, al.
ways proves little enough Let us,
then, be up and doing, and doing to
a purpose; so by diligence shall wedo
more with less perplexity. Drive
thy business, and let not that drive
thee; and early to bed, and early to
rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy
aud wise, as Poor Richard says.
$50, what signifies wishing and
hoping for better times? We may
make these times better il we bestir
ourselves. Industry need not wish
and he that lives upon hopes will die
fasting There are no gains with
out pains; then help hands, for l have
no lands. He that hath q trade
hath an estate; and he that hath 6
calling, hath an Office OF profit ant
honor but then the trade must b.
worked at, and the calling we'll fol
lowed, or neither the estate nor tn
Office will enable us to pay our taxes
Work while IL is called to-day, To-
you know not how much you may b.
hindered tomorrow. 'One to-day Il
worth two tomorrow, as Poor Rich
ard says; and further, Never leav,
thattill tomorrow which you can d.
to day
"Ii you we're a servant would yol
not be ashamed that q good maste
should catch you idle2 Are you
then, your own master? Be sshame,
to catch yourself idle, when there
Z 20 much to be done for yourself, you
family and your country. 1t is tru
there Is much to be done, and pei
haps you are weak.handed; but site
TO II steadily and you will see grea
effects, for constant dropping wear
away stones and little strokes IA
great oaks
II think I hear some Of you say
sNust q man afford himself NJ
lsleure?' l will tell you, my friends
ahat Poor Richard says: Emplo,