1901.] ROSENGARTEN — FRANKLIN 'S BAGATELLES. 95 



This however was afterwards of Use to me, [and] the Impression con- 

 tinuing on my Mind ; so that often when I was tempted to buy some 

 unnecessary thing, I said to myself, Don 't give too much for the Whistle, 

 and I saved my Money. 



As I grew up, [and] came into the World, and observed the Actions 

 of Men, I thought I [saw] met with many who gave too much for the 

 Whistle. When I saw [a man] one ambitious of Court Favour, sacrificing 

 his Time, in attendance at Levees, his Repose, his Liberty, his Virtu, and 

 perhaps his friend, to obtain it. [My] I have said to myself, This Man 

 gives too much for his Whistle. When I saw another fond of Popu- 

 larity, constantly employing himself in political Bustles, neglecting his 

 own Affairs, and ruining [himself] them by that Neglect, [Here] He pays, 

 says I, too much for his Whistle. If I knew a Miser, who gave up every 

 kind of comfortable Living, [in order] all the Pleasure of doing good 

 to others, all the Esteem of his Fellow Citizens, & the [J] Joys of be- 

 nevolent Friendship, for the sake of accumulating Wealth ; Poor Man, 

 says I, you pay too much for your Whistle. [If I saw a Prodigal] When 

 I met with a Man of Pleasure, [giving up] sacrificing every laud- 

 able Improvement of his Mind or of his Fortune, to mere corporal Satis- 

 factions, & ruining his Health in their Pursuit. Mistaken Man, says I, you 

 are providing Pain for yourself instead of Pleasure ; you pay too much 

 for your Whistle. If I [see] [saw] see one fond of Appearance of fine 

 CI oaths, ^f/z^ Houses, fine Furniture, fine Equipages, all above his For- 

 tune, [till] for which he contracts Debts, and ends his Career [in] in a 

 Prison. Alas, Says I, he has paid too ?michfor his Whistle. — When I 

 saw a beautiful [Girl] sweet temper' d Girl marr[ying]d to an ugly ill- 

 natur'd Brute of a Husband : [M] What a Pity, says I, that she should 

 pay so much for a Whistle / — In short, I conceiv'd that great Part of the 

 Miseries of Mankind, were brought upon them by the false Estimates 

 they had made of the Value of things,[and by their giving too much for 

 the Whistle. 



Yet I ought to have Charity for these unhappy People when I con- 

 sider, that with all this Wisdom of which I am boasting, there are cer- 

 tain things in the World [ooo] so tempting, for Example, the Apples of 

 King John, which happily are not to be bought, for if they were to be put 

 to sale by Auction, I might very easily be [brought] {induced'] led to 



