: Benjamin Franklin [1784
a circumstance. The skipper of a shallop, employed
between Cape May and Philadelphia, had done us
some small service, for which he refused to be paid.
My wife, understanding that he had a daughter, sent
her a present of a new-fashioned cap. Three years
after, this skipper being at my house with an old
farmer of Cape May, his passenger, he mentioned
the cap, and how much his daughter had been pleased
with it. “But,” said he, ‘‘it proved a dear cap to
our congregation.” ‘‘How so?” ‘‘When my daughter
 appeared with it at meeting, it was so much
admired, that all the girls resolved to get such caps
from Philadelphia; and my wife and I computed
that the whole could not have cost less than a hundred
 pounds.” ‘‘True,” said the farmer, “but you
do not tell all the story. I think the cap was nevertheless
 an advantage to us, for it was the first thing
that put our girls upon knitting worsted mittens for
sale at Philadelphia, that they might have wherewithal
 to buy caps and ribbons; and you know that
industry has continued, and is likely to continue
and increase to a much greater value, and answer
better purposes.” Upon the whole, I was more
reconciled to this little piece of luxury, since not
only the girls were made happier by having fine
caps, but the Philadelphians by the supply of warm
mittens.
In our commercial towns upon the sea-coast, fortunes
 will occasionally be made. Some of those who
grow rich will be prudent, live within bounds, and
preserve what they have gained for their posterity;
others, fond of showing their wealth, will be extrava-220