The Immortal mentor: or, Man's unerring guide to a healthy, wealthy, and happy life. In three parts. / By Lewis Cornaro, Dr. Franklin, and Dr. Scott. ; [Four lines from Pope]

PART II. THE WAY TO WEALTH, BY DOCTOR FRANKLIN.

INTRODUCTION.

"But for one end, one much neglected use, are riches worth your care: "This noble end is—to shew the virtues in their fair|est light; "To make humanity the minister of bounteous Provi|dence, "And teach the breast the generous luxury of doing good." Dr. ARMSTRONG.

THERE is scarcely among the evils of life, any so generally dreaded as poverty. Many other kinds of misery a man may easily forget, because they do not always force themselves upon his regards. But it is impossible to pass a day or an hour, in the company of men without seeing how much poverty is exposed to neglect and insult; and in its lowest state, to hunger and

nakedness; to injuries, against which, every passion is in arms; and to wants, which nature, without the aids of religi|on, cannot sustain.

OF these calamities, mankind in general seem to be sensible. We hear on every side the noise of trade; and see the streets thronged with numberless multitudes, whose faces are clouded with anxiety, and whose steps are hurried by precipitation, from no other motive than the hope of gain. The whole world is put in motion by the desire of that wealth, which is chiefly to be va|lued as it secures us from poverty and its miseries. But there are always some whose passions or follies lead them to a con|duct widely different from the general prac|tice of mankind. I mean the thoughtless and the negligent, who, from an excess of carelessness, or the seductions of company, indulge habits of pleasure and expence above their fortunes; and thus mispend their time, or waste the inheritance of

their fathers, without ever seeming to re|flect on the great sacrifice they are making, or the gulph to which they approach, till poverty, like an unexpected winter, comes upon them with all its chilling calamities, and awakens them to a pungent sense of their folly and wretchedness. The young, and those of the most generous and unsus|pecting tempers, often fall into this evil net, out of which they seldom escape with|out suffering injuries, which they painfully feel and seriously lament through life. No man had a heart more disposed to pity, nor a head more able to counsel these unfortu|nates, than the sage Dr. FRANKLIN, the friend of man, and the great economist of AMERICA. His little work, entitled, "THE WAY TO WEALTH," is uni|versally considered as a master-piece, on the art of making and preserving a for|tune. But before we give the Reader a sight of this, we will exhibit to his view some of the many felicities of wealth, that

on seeing how much happiness he may de|rive from it to himself, and how many ser|vices he may therewith confer on others, he may apply with vigor and perseverance to the means conducive to so desireable an end.

IN the first place—WEALTH always commands respect, unless its owner be an infamous wretch indeed; and even in that deplorable case, it has the magic powers of charity, to cover and hide a multitude of fins. It gives a man an air of consequence, and like true beauty, without any exertion of its own, wins the favour of all behold|ers. When the rich man goes into compa|ny, every body rise up to salute him: no features too hard to assume a smile; no back so stiff but can afford him a bow. He is placed in the uppermost seat at the table, and men covet to direct their con|versation to him. The poor man speak|eth, but no one regardeth: the rich

openeth his mouth, and lo! silence is kept.

WHAT can be more pleasing to a man than to see himself thus honoured by his friends? But besides this satisfaction, which to the good, is very exquisite; it has a very happy moral effect on the mind. In a mind possessed of common sensibility, it must kindle the soft fire of good humour, and good humour naturally inspires benevolence and affection. Whence we infer, that a rich man, who is prudent, stands a much fairer chance to be good humoured than the poor, whose poverty exposes them to such frequent slights and neglects.

IN the second place—WEALTH places a man in a state which all must covet; a state of INDEPENDENCE. To owe no man any thing; to be able to go wither-soever we please; and to face any company without dread of dunning, is a luxury too divine, even to be conceived by any who have not been haunted and hag ridden by

creditors. Say, ye debtors, ye poorest of mankind, say, ye who cannot look at a creditor without confusion, nor hear the name of justice without a pang; who startle at the sound of a shaken leaf, as though the feet of the sheriff were at the door, and fly as the murderer flies from the avenger of blood, whose sorrowful days are wasted in meditating fruitless plans of payment, while your midnight slumbers are frightened by dreams of bankruptcy, and apparitions of merciless creditors, sales, and houseless children: say, wherein is the life of a debtor better than the life of a dog. Are not the prospects of independence as reviving to your hearts, as the prospects of paradise to souls that have long pined in purgatory?

BUT, on the other hand, never to go in debt; or, if accident should render a trifl|ing debt necessary; to have at home more than enough to defray it; to receive a cre|ditor with a smiling countenance; to de|light

his eyes with the promised gold, and to dismiss him charmed with our punctu|ality and honour: Must not this, to a good man, afford a series of satisfactions, too complicated for detail, and too exquisite for description?

IN the third place—WEALTH enables us to enjoy the purest and sublimest pleasures that are to be found on earth—the plea|sures of doing good.

To a tender parent, the interests of his children are dear, as the blood which feeds the fountain of life. When he looks at them, his bowels are moved within him, because he remembers the evils which await them; He considers that ignorance leaves them an easy prey to the crafty and cruel; and that want betrays them to dishonesty and falsehood. Happy the parent who pos|sesses wealth; he places before his children the lamp of knowledge, and they perceive the snares of the artful; be surrounds them with the blessings of competence, and

they despise the gains of iniquity. He has sisters and brothers, perhaps, poor in world|ly goods, but whom he loves as his own soul; and young relatives, whose little strong embraces, kindle all the parent within him. Is there on earth a happi|ness equal to that which he feels in supply|ing their wants; giving them education, and thus leading them, as by the hand, to usefulness and honour?

To welcome the weeping widow; to provide for her a place of rest; to dry up her tears; to feed and educate her little orphans, and to put them in a way to gain an honest livelihood.

To take by the hand poor young trades|men; to lend them money; to set them up, and thus to enable them to be very useful to the community, and to make comfort|able livings for themselves.

To build in the neighbourhoods of the poor, places of public worship, where the

people may learn the knowledge of GOD, and the happiness of a good life.

To assist in providing houses where the sick and aged poor, who are not able to work for themselves, may be taken in, and have medicines and physicians to cure their sicknesses, and food and cloathing to make the remainder of their days happy.

To feel for a tenant's misfortunes, and to abate something of his rent in a bad season.

To silence the excuses of a poor debtor with a "well, well; don't be uneasy on account of this trifle; I know you are an honest man, and I am willing to wait till you can make it convenient to pay me."

THESE are some of the numberless luxuries of beneficence which wealth enables a good man to enjoy. If you would enjoy them, listen to the instructions of Dr. FRANKLIN, and let the words of his mouth sink deep into your heart. Despise them not for their simplicity; for simple and unlearned is the multitude to which they are addressed.

THE WAY TO WEALTH.

COURTEOUS READER,

I HAVE heard, that nothing gives an author so great pleasure, as to find his works respectfully quoted by others. Judge, then, how much I must have been gratified by an incident I am go|ing to relate to you. I stopped my horse, lately, where a great number of people were collected at an auction of merchant's goods. The hour of the sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean

old man, with white locks, "Pray: father, Abraham, what think you of the times? Will not these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we be ever able to pay them? What would you advise us to?"—Father Abraham, stood up, and replied, "If you would have my advice, I will give it you in short; "for a word to the wise is e|nough," as Poor Richard says." They joined in desiring him to speak his mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows:

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

taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us, by allowing an abatement. However, let us hearken to good ad|vice, and something may be done for us; God helps them that help them|selves," as Poor Richard says.

I. "IT would be thought a hard go|vernment that should tax its people one-tenth part of their time, to be employ|ed in its service: but idleness taxes many of us much more; sloth, by bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens life. "Sloth, like rust, consumes fas|ter than labour wears, while the used key is always bright," as Poor Richard says. "But dost thou love life, then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of," as Poor Richard says. How much more than is necessa|ry do we spend in sleep? forgetting that "The sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough in the grave," as Poor Richard says.

"If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be," as Poor Richard says, "the greatest pro|digality;" since, as he elsewhere tells us, "Lost 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 pur|pose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity. "Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy; and, he that riseth late, must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his bu|siness at night; while laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him. Drive thy business, let not that drive thee; and early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise," as Poor Richard says.

"So what signifies wishing and hop|ing for better times? We may make these times better, if we bestir ourselves. "Industry need not wish, and he that

lives upon hope will die fasting. There are no gains without pains; then, help hands for I have no lands," or if I have they are smartly taxed. "He that hath a trade, hath an estate; and he that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honour," as Poor Richard says; but then the trade must be work|ed at, and the calling well followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious, we will never starve; for at the working man's house, hunger looks in, but dares not enter." Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, for "Industry pays debts, while de|spair increaseth them." What, though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy, "Di|ligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry. Then plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep."

Work while it is called to-day, for you know not how much you may be hin|dered to-morrow. "One to-day is worth two to-morrows," as Poor Rich|ard says; and farther, "Never leave that till to-morrow, which you can do to-day." If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle? Are you then your own master? be ashamed to catch yourself idle, when there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, your relations, and your country. Handle your tools without mittens: remember, that "The cat in gloves catches no mice," as Poor Richard says. It is true, there is much to be done, and, perhaps, you are weak-handed; but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects; for "Constant dropping wears away stones; and by diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable; and little strokes fell great oaks."

METHINKS I hear some of you say,

Must a man afford himself no lei|sure?

I will tell thee my friend what Poor Richard says; "Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure; and, since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour." Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; for, "A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. Many, without labour would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock;" whereas industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect. "Fly pleasures, and they will follow you. The diligent spinner has a large shift; and now I have a sheep and a cow, every body bids me good-mor|row."

II. "BUT with our industry, we must likewise be steady, settled, and careful, and oversee our own affairs

with our own eyes, and not trust too much to others; for, as Poor Richard says,

"I never saw an oft-removed tree, Nor yet an oft-removed family, That throve so well as those that fettled be."

"And again, "Three removes is as bad as a fire;" and again, "Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee;" and again, "If you would have your business done, go; if not, send." And again,

"He that by the plough would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive."

"And again, "The eye of a master will do more work than both his hands;" and again, "Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge;" and again, "Not to oversee workmen, is to leave them your purse open." Trusting too much to others care is the ruin of many; for, "In the affairs of this world, men are saved, not by faith, but by the want of it;" but a man's

own care is profitable; for, "If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself. A little neglect may breed great mischief; for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost," being overtaken and slain by the enemy; all for want of a little care about a horse-shoe nail.

III. "So much for industry my friends, and attention to one's own bu|siness; but to these we must add fruga|lity, if we would make our industry more certainly successful. A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, "keep his nose all his life to the grind|stone, 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 & knitting, And men for punch forsook hewing and splitting."

"If you would be wealthy, think of saving, as well as of getting. The In|dies

have not made Spain rich, be|cause her outgoes are greater than her incomes."

"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, Makes the wealth small, and the want great."

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, cloaths 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 expences; "A small leak will sink a great ship," as Poor Richard says; and again, "Who dain|ties love, shall beggars prove?" and moreover, "Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them." Here you are all got together to this sale of fineries and

nick-nacks. 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 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 thy busi|ness, may do the more harm than good. For in another place he says, "Many have been ruined by buying good pen|nyworths." Again, "It is foolish to lay out money in a purchase of repent|ance;" and yet this folly is practised every day at auctions, for want of mind|ing the Almanack. Many a one, for the sake of finery on the back, have

gone with a hungry belly, and half starved their families; "Silks and sat|tins, 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 conve|niencies: and yet only because they look pretty, how many want to have them? By these and other extravagan|cies, the genteel are reduced to poverty, and forced to borrow of those whom they formerly despised, but who, thro' 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 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 people, when he goes to get in again. Poor Dick farther ad|vises, and says,

"Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse; Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse."

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 ap|pearance may be all of a piece; but Poor Dick says, "It is easier to sup|press 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 risk|ed, so much is suffered? It cannot pro|mote 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 mo|ney, 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 can|not pay at the time, you will be asham|ed to see your creditor; you will be in fear when you speak to him; 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, "Ly|ing rides upon Debt's back:" whereas a free American ought not to be asham|ed, 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 up|right." What would you think of that nation, 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 con|fining 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 superstiti|ous 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, per|haps, you may think yourselves in thriv|ing circumstances, and that you can bear a little extravagance without in|jury; but

"For age and want save while you may, No morning-sun lasts a whole day."

GAIN may be temporary and uncer|tain, but ever, while you live, expence is constant and uncertain; and, "It is ea|sier 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, 'Tis the stone that will turn all your lead into gold."

AND when you have got the philoso|pher'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 bles|sing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it, but comfort and help them. Remem|ber, Job suffered, and was afterwards prosperous.

"AND now to conclude, "Experi|ence 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 can|not be helped;" and farther, that "If you will not hear Reason, she will sure|ly 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 auc|tion opened, and they began to buy extravagantly. I found the good man had thoroughly studied my Almanacks, and digested all 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 delight|ed with it, though I was conscious, that not a tenth part of the wisdom was my own, which he ascribed to me; but ra|ther the gleanings that I had made of the sense of all ages and nations. How|ever, 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. I am, as ever, thine to serve thee.

RICHARD SAUNDERS.

ADVICE TO A YOUNG TRADESMAN.

REMEMBER that time is money. He that can earn ten shillings a day by his labour, and goes abroad, or sits idle one half of that day, though he spends but sixpence during his diversion or idleness, ought not to reckon that the only expence; he has really spent, or rather thrown away, five shillings besides.

REMEMBER that credit is money. If a man lets his money lie in my hands after it is due, he gives me the interest, or so much as I can make of it during

that time. This amounts to a consider|able sum when a man has good and large credit, and makes good use of it.

REMEMBER that money is of a pro|lific generating nature. Money can be|get money, and its offspring can beget more, and so on. Five shillings turned is six; turned again, it is seven and three pence; and so on till it becomes an hun|dred pounds. The more there is of it, the more it produces, every turning, so that the profits rise quicker and quicker. He that kills a breeding sow, destroys all her offspring to the thousandth genera|tion. He that murders a crown, de|stroys all that it might have produced, even scores of pounds.

REMEMBER that six pounds a year is but a groat a day. For this little sum, which may be daily wasted either in time or expence, unperceived, a man of cre|dit may, on his own security, have the constant possession and use of an hun|dred

pounds. So much in stock, brisk|ly turned by an industrious man, produ|ces great advantage.

REMEMBER this saying, "The good paymaster is lord of another man's purse." He that is known to pay punc|tually and exactly to the time he pro|mises, may at any time, and on any oc|casion, raise all the money his friends can spare. This is sometimes of great use. After industry and frugality, no|thing contributes more to the raising of a young man in the world, than punctu|ality and justice in all his dealings: there|fore never keep borrowed money an hour beyond the time you promised, lest a disappointment shut up your friend's purse for ever.

THE most trifling actions that affect a man's credit are to be regarded. The sound of your hammer at five in the morning, or nine at night, heard by a creditor, makes him easy six months

longer; but if he sees you at a billiard table, or hears your voice at a tavern, when you should be at work, he sends for his money the next day; demands it before he can receive it in a lump.

IT shews, besides, that you are mind|ful of what you owe; it makes you ap|pear a careful, as well as honest man, and that still increases your credit.

BEWARE of thinking all your own that you possess, and of living accord|ingly. It is a mistake that many people who have credit fall into. To prevent this, keep an exact account, for some time, both of your expences and your income. If you take the pains at first to mention particulars, it will have this good effect; you will discover how wonderfully small trifling expences mount up to large sums, and will discern what might have been, and may for the fu|ture be saved, without occasioning any great inconvenience.

IN short, the way to wealth, if you desire it, is as plain as the way to mar|ket. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality; that is, waste nei|ther time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality nothing will do, and with them every thing. He that gets all he can honestly, and saves all he gets, (neces|sary expences excepted) will certainly become rich; if that Being who go|verns the world, to whom all should look for a blessing on their honest en|deavours, doth not, in his wise provi|dence, otherwise determine.

AN OLD TRADESMAN.