LIX. THE GOOD TIME COMING. 1. There's a good time coming, boys, We may not live to see the day, But thought's a weapon stronger; 2. There's a good time coming, boys, The pen shall supersede the sword, Worth, not Birth, shall rule mankind, The proper impulse has been given;- 3. There's a good time coming, boys, shall be In the good time coming. Nor slaughter men for glory's sake 4. There's a good time coming, boys, The people shall be temperate, And make all virtue stronger. 5. There's a good time coming, boys, Every woman, every man, The good time coming. "Twill be strong enough one day ;- 1. Glisten, supersede, iniquity, slaughter, reformation. 2. What command, observed by all, would bring about this "good time coming"? How is the pen mightier than the sword? Are quarrels necessary? Is war necessary? Would it not be better if nations would settle disputes by arbitration? LX. POOR RICHARD. PART I. 1. I have heard that nothing gives an author so great pleasure as to find his works respectfully quoted by other learned authors. Judge, then, how much I must have been gratified by an incident I am going to relate to you. I stopped my horse lately where a great number of people were collected at a vendue of merchant goods. The hour of 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 ever be able to pay them? What would you advise us to do?" 2. Father Abraham stood up, and replied: "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. 3. "It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one tenth part of their time to be employed in its service; but idleness taxes many of us much more. Sloth, by bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens life. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor 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. 4. "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 purpose; 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 business at night; while laziness travels so slowly that poverty. soon overtakes him.' 'Drive thy business, let not that drive thee,' and 66 6 Early to bed and early to rise, Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,' as Poor Richard says. 5. "So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We may make these times better if we bestir ourselves. 6 Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hope will die fasting.' 'He that hath a trade hath an estate; and he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honor,' as Poor Richard says. But then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. 6. “If we are industrious, we shall never starve ; for 'At the working man's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter.' Work while it is called to-day, for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow. 'One to-day is worth two to-morrows,' as Poor Richard says. 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, and your country. 7. "Methinks I hear some of you say, you say, 'Must a man afford himself no leisure?' 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 labor, would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock;' whereas industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect. 8. "If you would have your business done, go; if not, send;' and again |