“’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 philosopher’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 riot 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 blessing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it, but comfort and help them.  Remember Job suffered, and was afterwards prosperous.

“And now to conclude, ’Experience 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 can not give conduct.’  However, remember this, ‘They that will not be counseled, can not be helped;’ and farther, that, ’If you will not hear reason, she will surely rap your knuckles,’ as Poor Richard says.”

Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue.  The people heard it, and approved the doctrine, and immediately practiced the contrary, just as if it had been a common sermon; for the auction opened, and they began to buy extravagantly.  I found the good man had thoroughly studied my Almanac, and digested all I had dropped on these 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 delighted with it, though I was conscious that not a tenth part of the wisdom was my own which he ascribed to me; but rather the gleanings that I had made of the sense of all ages and nations.  However, 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.

This quaint address made a brilliant hit.  It was at once printed on large sheets, framed, and hung up in cottages in England, as well as in this country.  It was also translated into French, Spanish, and modern Greek.  At the present day, however, it is not often met with, except in the author’s collected works, or in fragments; and the young reader, especially, will be thankful to find it here in full.

* * * * *

II.

Defense of A great man.

WAS DR. FRANKLIN MEAN?—­JAMES PARTON’S ANSWER.

A man of no enviable notoriety is reported to have spoken of Dr. Franklin as “hard, calculating, angular, unable to comprehend any higher object than the accumulation of money.”  Not a few people who profess much admiration for Franklin in other respects seem to think that in money matters there was something about him akin to meanness.  To correct this false impression and show “how Franklin got his money, how much he got, and what he did with it,” one of his recent biographers is called up in his defense, and to the question, “Was Dr. Franklin mean?” here is