Excerpt from Poor Richard's Almanac for 1850: As Written by Benjamin Franklin, for the Years 1733, 1734, 1735 It would be a curious thing, were it possible, to trace the influence of the sound common sense - the homely wisdom, of the frugal maxims of poor richard upon the easly inhabitants of these States. Running along down the carefully-scanned weather-columns' of the Almanac, and intermingling with Apogee, ' Expect much min about these days, ' and the like, came unexp'ectedly upon the reader, these lessons of wisdom sinking 'directly into the mind or the heart, remaining there indelibly, and associated, perhaps, in the minds of thousands, with the very days of the month along which they ran, and the especial seasons when the Almanac was consulted. Who can tell how many thou sands have been brought to a keen sense and appreciation of the necessity of personal exertion in the little couplet