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 vendue opened and they began to buy extravagantly, notwithstanding all his cautions and their own fear of taxes. I found the good man had thoroughly studied my almanacs and digested all I had dropped 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 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.
July 7th, 1757.
[409-1] A vendue is an auction.
[409-2] Very few of the proverbs which Franklin made use of in his almanacs were original with him. As he said in his comment, they represented “the wisdom of many ages and nations.”
[409-3] This is similar to that other proverbial expression—“Fine words butter no parsnips.”
[415-4] Tea at this time was expensive and regarded as a luxury.
[416-5] He’s a lucky fellow who is made prudent by other men’s perils.
[420-6] The philosopher’s stone, so called; a mineral having the power of turning base metals into gold.