28 RISEN BY PERSEVERANCE. 



fortune and independence were, as is well known, eminently 

 successful ; and we find in his whole history, even to its close, 

 a display of the same spirit of intelligence and love of 

 knowledge, and the same active, self-denying, and intrepid 

 virtues, which so greatly distinguished its commencement. 

 The publication of a pamphlet, soon after Meredith had left 

 him, in recommendation of a paper currency, a subject then 

 much debated in the province, obtained him such popularity 

 that he was employed by the Government in printing the 

 notes after they had resolved upon issuing them. Other 

 profitable business of the same kind succeeded. He then 

 opened a stationer's shop, began gradually to pay off hifs 

 debts, and soon after married. By this time his old rival, 

 Keimer, had gone to ruin ; and he was (with the exception 

 of an old man, who was rich, and did not care about business) 

 the only printer in the place. We now find him taking a 

 leading part as a citizen. He established a circulating libraiy, 

 the first ever known in America, which, although it com- 

 menced with only fifty subscribers, became in course of time a 

 large and valuable collection, the proprietors of which were 

 eventually incorporated by royal cl arter. While yet in its 

 infancy, however, it afforded its founder facilities of improve- 

 ment of which he did not fail to avail himself, setting apart, 

 as he tells us, an hour or two every day for study, which 

 was the only amusement he allowed himself. In 1732, he 

 first published his celebrated Almanac, under the name of 

 Richard Saunders, but which was commonly known by the 

 name of Poor Richard's Almanack. He continued this 

 publication annually for twenty - five years. The proverbs 

 and pithy sentences scattered up and down in the different 

 numbers of it, v/ere after\\'ards thrown ♦oe^ether into a 



