Page:Way to wealth (2).pdf/6

6 ready money, might let that money ont to use ; so that he that possesses any thing he has bought, pays interest for the use of it.

Yet, in buying goods, it is best to pay ready money, because he that sells upon credit, expects to lose five per cent. by bad debts ; therefore he charges, on all he sells upon credit, an advance that shall make up that deficiency.

Those who pay for what they buy upon credit, pay their share of this advance.

He that pays ready money, escapes, or may escape, that charge.

A penny saved is twopenee clear ;

A pin a-day's a groat a-year.

PRELIMINARY ADDRESS TO THE PENNSYLVANIA ALMANAC,

ENTITULED,

" POOR RICHARD'S ALMANACK FOR TIE YEAR 1758."

I HAVE heard that nothing gives an author so great pleasure as to find his works respectfully quoted by other learned authors. This pleasure I have seldom enjoyed ; for though I have been, if I may say it without vanity, an eminent author (of Almanacks) annually, now a full quarter of a century, my brother authors in the same way (for what reason I know not,) have ever been very sparing in their applauses ; and no other author has taken the least notice of me ; so that, did not my writings produce me some solid pudding, the great deficiency of praise would have quite discouraged me.

I concluded at length, that the people were the best judges of my merit, for they buy my works ; and besides, in my rambles, where I am not personally known, I have frequently heard one or other of my adages repeated with-

“ As poor Richard says,"

at the end on't. This gave me some satisfaction ; as it showed not only that my instructions were regarded, but discovered ; and I own that, to encourage the practice of remembering and repeating those wise sentences, I have sometimes quoted myself with great gravity.

Judge, then, how mnch I must have been gratified by an incident I am going to relate to you.