Introduction
Ben Franklin “when I grew up and came into the World, and observed the Actions of Men, I thought I met many who gave too much for the Whistle.— If I knew a Miser, who gave up every kind of comfortable Living, all the Pleasure of doing Good to others, all the Esteem of his Fellow Citizens, & the Joys of Friendship, for the sake of Accumulating Wealth, Poor Man, says I, you pay too much for your Whistle. -When I met with a Man of Pleasure, sacrificing every laudable Improvement of his Mind or of his Fortune, to mere bodily Satisfactions, & ruining his Health in their Pursuit, Mistaken Man, say I, you are providing Pain for your self instead of Pleasure, you pay too much for your Whistle - If I see one fond of Appearance, of fine Clothes, fine Houses, fine Furniture, all above his Fortune, for which he contract Debts, and ends his Career in a Prison; Alas, says I, he has paid too much for his Whistle. -When I saw a beautiful sweet temper’d Girl, marry’d to an ill-natured Brute of a Husband; What a Pity, says I, that she should pay so much for a Whistle!”

John Adams to Abigail Adams:
But the Day is past. The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epoch, in the History of America. – I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

Abigail Adams to John Adams
Posterity who are to reap the Blessings, will scarcely be able to conceive the Hardships and Sufferings of their Ancestors.