s to carry him through, even if nothing good
should occur to him on the spot. Thus wise people, in going on a fishing
excursion, take with them not merely their fishing tackle, but a few fish;
and then, if they are not sure of their luck, they will be sure of their
chowder.

These are some of the simple hints that might be given, in answer to
inquiring friends. I can remember when they would have saved me some
anguish of spirit; and they may be of some use to others now. I write,
then, not to induce any one to talk for the sake of talking,--Heaven
forbid!--but that those who are longing to say something should not fancy
the obstacles insurmountable, when they are really slight.

VII

PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT

"That liberty, or freedom, consists in having an actual share in
the appointment of those who frame the laws, and who are to be the
guardians of every man's life, property, and peace; for the all of
one man is as dear to him as the all of another, and the poor man
has an equal right, but more need, to have representatives in the
legislature than the rich one. That they who have no voice nor vote
in the electing of representatives do not enjoy liberty, but are
absolutely enslaved to those who have votes, and to their
representatives; for to be enslaved is to have governors whom other
men have set over us, and be subject to laws made by the
representatives of others, without having had representatives of our
own to give consent in our behalf."--BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, in Sparks's
Franklin, ii. 372.

WE THE PEOPLE

I remember that when I went to school I used to look with wonder on the
title of a now forgotten newspaper of those days which was then often in
the hands of one of the older scholars. I remember nothing else about the
newspaper, or about the boy, except that the title of the sheet he used to
unfold was "We the People;" and that he derived from it his school
nickname, by a characteristic boyish parody, and was usually mentioned as
"Us the Folks."

Probably all that was taught in that school, in regard to American history,
was not of so much value as the permanent fixing of this phrase in our
memories. It seemed very natural, in later years, to come upon my old
friend "Us the Folks," reproduced in almost every charter of our national
government, as thus:--

"WE THE PEOPLE of the United States, in order to form a more perfect
union, e