La Science Du Bonhomme Richard, ou Moyen Facile de Payer les Impots. [The Way to Wealth].

In the 27th and final edition of Poor Richard’s Almanack, Franklin included a preface consisting of “a long speech to a market-day audience by a character named Father Abraham. The speech blended maxims and aphorisms culled from previous almanacs into a promise that men who worked hard, were prudent and frugal, would become rich. The people listened attentively, but once Father Abraham had finished they ‘immediately practiced the contrary, just as if it had been a common sermon,’ Poor Richard remarked ruefully; ‘for the vendue opened, and they began to buy extravagantly, notwithstanding all his cautions, and their own fear of taxes.’ Under the title ‘The Way to Wealth’ the speech would become the most popular of all Franklin’s writings” (Hawke, 162-3).