The wisdom of the Almanac is the wisdom of practical experience, the wisdom of those who have lived and worked, who have lost and won. It does not deal with the finer phases of character, but with those practical things which lead to a bread-and-butter success.

A boy who knows what Poor Richard teaches and follows his precepts will be a business success. If a parent can grind into the character of his child these lessons of industry, simplicity, temperance and frugality he will have left a legacy more valuable a thousand times than the wealth he may have amassed, although that is reckoned by the millions.

Because of the extreme condensation of the address by Father Abraham, the following outlines have been made to enable a parent to find easily what is wanted and to present it attractively. The selection is one of those which children will not master by themselves, but one which the parent can easily make interesting if he will follow the plans given below.

Analysis

  1. I. (Page 409.) Taxes are heavy, but we are taxed:
  2. 1. Twice as much by our Idleness.
  3. 2. Three times as much by our Pride.
  4. 3. Four times as much by our Folly.
  5. II. Idleness and Industry. (pages 409, 411.)
  6. 1. Time wasted in doing nothing (page 409), sloth.
  7. (In this connection see fable, Industry and Sloth, Volume I, page 300. Consult [index] in this volume).
  8. 2. Time wasted in sleep (page 410).
  9. 3. Time wasted in wishing and hoping (page 411).
  10. 4. Industry lost by putting off till tomorrow (page 412).
  11. 5. Steadiness in industry wins (page 412).
  12. III. Folly. (pages 414-416).
  13. 1. Of trusting to others (page 414).
  14. 2. Of neglect of small matters (page 414).
  15. 3. Of extravagance and the sensibleness of frugality (page 414).
  16. 4. Of vice (page 415).
  17. 5. Of high living (page 415).
  18. 6. Of purchasing unnecessary things (page 415).
  19. 7. Of luxury (page 416).
  20. IV. Pride. (page 417).
  21. 1. Of dress (page 417).
  22. 2. In table luxuries (page 417).
  23. 3. Of appearance (page 417).
  24. V. The Madness of Debt. (pages 417-420).
  25. 1. Brings shame (page 417).
  26. 2. Causes lying (page 418).
  27. 3. Destroys virtue (page 418).
  28. 4. Brings slavery (page 419).
  29. 5. Prevents success (page 420).
  30. VI. Ask for the Blessing of Heaven (page 420).
  31. VII. Accept Counsel. Do not wait for Experience.

Following the arrangement of the analysis above we may group a series of typical maxims, each of which can be made the basis of one of those little fireside talks which bear so prominent a part in the recollection of every man and woman who had the blessing to be brought up in a real home where father and mother joined in a sincere effort to bring up their children to honest, earnest, successful maturity.

  1. I. “We are taxed twice as much by our Idleness, three times as much by our Pride and four times as much by our Folly.”
  2. II. Idleness and Industry.
  3. 1. “Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears; while the used key is always bright.”
  4. 2. “The sleeping fox catches no poultry.”
  5. 3. “He that lives on hope will die fasting.”
  6. 4. “Industry need not wish.”
  7. 5. “Have you somewhat to do tomorrow? Do it today.”
  8. 6. “Three removes are as bad as a fire.”
  9. III. Folly.
  10. 1. “If you would have a faithful servant and one that you like, serve yourself.”
  11. 2. “For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; for want of a horse the rider was lost.”
  12. 3. “A fat kitchen makes a lean will.”
  13. 4. “What maintains one vice would bring up two children.”
  14. 5. “Who dainties love shall beggars prove.”
  15. 6. “At a great pennyworth pause awhile.”
  16. 7. “Silks and satins, scarlets and velvets put out the kitchen fire.”
  17. IV. Pride.
  18. 1. “Fond pride of dress is, sure, a very curse.
    Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse.”
  19. 2. “Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy.”
  20. 3. “What is a butterfly? At best
    He’s but a caterpillar drest.”
  21. V. The Madness of Debt.
  22. 1. “You will be ashamed to see your creditor.”
  23. 2. “Lying rides upon debt’s back.”
  24. 3. “It’s hard for an empty bag to stand upright.”
  25. 4. “Creditors have better memories than debtors.”
  26. 5. “Those have short Lent who owe money to be paid at Easter.”
  27. VI. “Job suffered and was afterward prosperous.”
  28. VII. “They that won’t be counselled can’t be helped.”
  29. “If you will not hear reason, she’ll surely rap your knuckles.”

CHAPTER VI
Father and Son