The printer boy; or, How Ben Franklin made his mark. An example for youth

Front matter

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Preface

This book is one of a series, the design of which is to illustrate the familiar maxim, that " the boy is father OF THE MAN." The carlj life of Frankhn is sketched ^^om his childhood to the time he was estabhshed in >usiness, thus showing what he was in boyhood and youth ; and the achievements of his manhood are summed up in a closing chapter, to substantiate the truth of the above proverb.

The author believes that the lives of distinguished men may be incorporated into a story, uniting narrative and dialogue so as to be more attractive to the young. John Bunyan was the first to adopt this style, and his inimitable Pilgrim's Progress charms the young reader, not only by its graphic imagery, but also by its alternation of narrative and dialogue. Since his day, others have adopted a similar style, particularly in works of fiction, with success. "Why may not truth appear in such a dress as successfully as fiction ? Why may not actual lives be presented in this manner as vividly as imaginary ones ? The young mind

IV PEEFACE.

will seize upon a truth or fact that is conveyed in a story, when it will remain wholly indifferent to it as it appears in a simple statement. So the life of an eminent man may engage the attention of this class, if he is made to speak and act for himself, when they would not be interested in it, if it were presented to them in a plain summary of facts.

In this volume, the actual early life of Franklin is wrought into a story. The imagination has done no more than to weave the facts of his boyhood and youth into a "tale of real life." It makes Benjamin and his associates speak and do what biographers say they spoke and did. It simply paints the scenes and acts of which other writers have told,

A conspicuous place is given in the work to the maxims of Franklin for the purpose of conveying important lessons in regard to the formation of character, and thus stimulating the young in the path of well-doing. Whole volumes of meaning are condensed into many of his wise and pithy sayings.

,,, If young readers give this book a cordial welcome, we proiqolse them another in due time, on the same plan, bearmg the title. The Farmer-Boy, or How George Washington became President.

W. M. T.

I. The Whistle

THE HOLIDAY. — THE COPPERS IN BENJAMIN FRANKLIN' S POCKET.

INQUIRY. — BOUNDING OUT. — THE TOY-SHOP THEN AND NOV/, —

THE BOY AND HIS ^VHISTLE. — RESOLVED TO PURCHASE. — THE BAR- GAIN. — GOING HOME. — MAKING MUSIC. — DISCUSSION ABOUT THE

PRICE. A POCKET FULL OF GOOD THINGS. — BENJAMIN CRYING

OVEP. HIS WHISTLE. — A BENEFIT. — WHAT FRANKLIN SAID OP IT SIXTY YEARS AFTER. — BOYS DO NOT LEARN FROM THE PAST. — OTHER WAYS OF PAYKJG TOO DEAR FOR A WHISTLE. — DECEIT AND FALSEHOOD. — TIPPLING. — WORLDLY PLEASURE.

II

TALK ABOUT SCHOOL. — BROTHERS AT TRADES. — BENJAMIN FOR THE CHURCH. — EARLY LEARNED TO READ. — LONG PROCESS TO PRE- PARE FOR 3IINISTRY. — " UNCLE BENJAMIN'S" REMARKS AND OFFER.

WHO IS "UNCLE BENJAMIN." A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. H WHEN

BENJAMIN WAS BORN^ii — BAPTIZED ON SAME DAY HE WAS BORN. —

THE RECORD. — DESCRIPTION OF HIS BIRTHPLACE"\ EARLY LOVE

OF BOOKS. — HIS father's VIOLIN. — POOR BUT INDUSTRIOUS. — SEV- ENTEEN CHILDREN. — DECISION TO ENTER SCHOOL. — WHERE IT WAS, AND BY WHOM KEPT. — HIS RAPID PROGRESS. — MR. FRANKLIN'S TRUST IN PROVIDENCE. — AT THE HEAD OF HIS CLASS. — THE BOY FATHER OF THE MAN. — DANIEL WEBSTER. — DAVID RITTENHOUSB AND GEORGE STEPHENSON. — HOPES OF BENJAMIN.

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III

CONVEKSATION BETWEEN MR. AND MRS. FRANKLIN. — DECISION TO REMOVE BENJAMIN FROM SCHOOL. — TRIALS OF MINISTERS. — BREAD BEFORE LEARNING. — SUBJECT OPENED TO BENJAMIN. — HIS FEEL- INGS. — CHARACTER OF SCHOOLS THEN. — MR. BROWNWELL'S WRIT- ING-SCHOOL. — benjamin's obedience. — HIS FATHER STRICT. — KEEPING THE SABBATH. — LOVE AND RESPECT FOR HIS FATHER. — REBUKING THE INQUISITIVE LANDLORD. — ERECTING MARBLE STONE TO THE MEMORY OF HIS PARENTS. — THE STONE REPLACED BY CITI- ZENS OF BOSTON. — OBEDIENCE OF THE PEEL BOYS. — HARRY GAR- LAND. — STEPHENSON'S NOBLE ACT TO HIS PARENTS. — THE EIGHT BROTHERS AT INAUGURATION OF THE FRANKLIN STATUE. — PROGRESS IN PENMANSHIP. — BELOVED BY TEACHER.

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PUT TO CANDLE-MAKING AT TEN YEARS OF AGE. — HIS FATHER A TALLOW-CHANDLER. — BENJAMIN OPPOSED TO IT. — IMPORTANCE OF INDUSTRY. — HIS FATHER'S HIVE ^^^THOUT DRONES. — BENJAMIN'S IklAXIMS ABOUT INDUSTRY IN LATER LIFE. — "THE USED KEY AL- WAYS BRIGHT." — "DILIGENCE THE MOTHER OF GOOD LUCK." — BAD LUCK. — BIBLE VIEW. — NO SCHOOLING AFTER TEN YEARS OF AGE.

— CUTTING CANDLE-WICKS. — WHERE WAS THE SHOP. — BENJAMIN DESIRES TO GO TO SEA. — HIS MOTHER'S VETO. — AN OLDER BROTHER WENT TO SEA. — TALK WITH HIS FATHER. — HIS FATHER'S VETO. — PROMISE OF ANOTHER PURSUIT. — RESPECT FOR A PATERNAL " NO."

— HIS SPORTS ON THE WATER. — NO PROSPECT OF FAME. — GIOTTI

ROGER SHERMAN AT HIS BENCH. — BOYS NOT EXCUSED FROM SCHOOL BY THESE EXAMPLES. — BENEFIT OF A LITTLE KNO^VLEDGE. — SAVED BENJAMIN RUSSELL IN THUNDER-STORM. — HOW STEPHENSON FELT FOR HIS SON.

CONTENTS. VU

V. The Rogues Wharf 44

" ALL ABOARD." — THE QUAGMIRE. — PROPOSAL TO BUILD A WHARF. — THE HEAP OF STONES. — PLAN TO STEAL THEM. — TIME SET IN THE EVENING. — THE PLAN EXECUTED. — THE WHARF DONE. — KEEPING THE SECRET. — BENJAMIN'S FATHER FINDS HIM OUT. — BENJAMIN IN A TIGHT PLACE. — PROMISES TO DO BETTER. — HOW

THE BOYS WERE FOUND OUT. BENJAMIN'S READING HABITS.

WHAT BOOKS LIKED. — MATHER'S "ESSAYS TO DO GOOD." — LETTER TO MATHER'S SON. — BOYS SHOULD BE IN EVENINGS. — ADVANTAGE OF READING. — LETTER TO A GIRL ON THE SUBJECT.

VI. Table -Talk 55

INTERVIEW WITH A FRIEND. — HIS ANCESTORS. — THEIR HARD- SHIPS. — DENIED LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE. — THE BIBLE UNDER THE STOOL. — LEAVING THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. — CAME TO THIS COUNTRY TO ENJOY RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. — CONVERSATION ON USE- FUL THEMES AT TABLE. — ALLOWED NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT FOOD. — INTRODUCED GUESTS AND SENSIBLE REMARKS TO PREVENT. — EF- FECT ON BENJAMIN. — THE WASHBURNE FAMILY. — BENEFIT OF GOOD CONVERSATION. — HIS FATHER'S REMARKS ABOUT FOOD. — BENJAMIN TEMPERATE IN EATING AND DRINKING. — " THE WATER-AMERICAN."

— NO TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES THEN. — TABLE-TALK NOW. — A TABLE SCENE.

VII. Choosing a Trade 64

STILL OPPOSED TO CANDLE-MAKING. — A DIRTY, SIMPLE BUSINESS.

— WANTS TO DO SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES INGENUITY. — HIS FATHER AND MOTHER CONFERRING TOGETHER. — "A ROLLING STONE

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GATHERS NO MOSS." — AFRAID HE WILL GO TO SEA. — BENJAMIN'S VIEWS AND MAXIMS. — OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE A TRADE. — GOING TO SEE DIFFERENT TRADES. — DEVOTES A DAY TO IT. — JOINER'S, turner's, and bricklayer's work. — CUTLERY SHOP, HIS COUSIN'S. WHICH TRADE HE CHOSE. — HIS FATHER'S DECISION. — ARRANGE- MENT TO LEARN TO MAKE CUTLERY. — WISE TO CONSULT TASTE AND TACT OF BENJAMIN. — HANDEL THE MUSICIAN. — SIR JOSHUA REY- NOLDS. — FATHER OF JOHN SMEATON. — OPPOSING CHILD'S BENT OF MIND.

VIII. The Frhtter-Boy . . . . . .76

TAKEN AWAY FROM COUSIN SAMUEL. — HIS BROTHER'S RETURN FROM ENGLAND. — SETTING UP PRINTING BUSINESS. — PROPOSAL TO BENJAIMIN. — A LONG APPRENTICESHIP. — BENJAMIN DISPOSED TO TURN PRINTER-BOY. — HIS BROTHER'S OFFER TO TEACH HIM THE ART OF PRINTING. — BORROWING BOOKS TO READ, AND SITTING UP NIGHTS. — MR. ADAMS'S LIBRARY AKD HIS KINDNESS. — GOING TO IT FOR BOOKS. — SCARCITY OF BOOKS. — COMPARED WITH NOW. — TWO *^ AND A HALF BOOKS MADE IN A MINUTE. — NO LIBRARIES THEN. — THEIR ENORMOUS SIZE NOW. — HABIT OF READING MADE HIM PUNC- TUAL. — EXAStPLE OF LORD BROUGHAM.

IX. Mrd Literary Eiiterprise 85

A PIECE OF POETRY. — PRONOUNCED GOOD. — PROPOSITION TO FRINT HIS ARTICLES. — " THE LIGHT-HOUSE TRAGEDY." — A SAILOR'S SONG. — PRINTING THEM. — SELLING THEM IN THE STREETS. — A SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISE. — HIS FATHER OPPOSES. — CONDEMNS PO- ETRY IN GENERAL AND BENJAMIN'S IN PARTICULAR. — A SEVERE REBUKE. — CRESTFALLEN. — CONFERENCE WITH JAMES. — HIS FA- THER'S CENSURE A BENEFIT. — PRACTICE OF WRITING COMPOSITION EXCELLENT. — HOW IT BENEFITED BENJAiILN, EVEN PECUNIARILY. — THE FARMER'S SON AND MINISTER.

CONTENTS. IX

DISPUTE WITH JOHN COLLINS. — A BOOKISH FELLOW. — THE EDU- CATION OF GIRLS. — THE CONTROVERSIAL CORRESPONDENCE. — HIS FATHER FINDS THE LETTERS. — HIS CRITICISMS. — COLLINS MORE EXCELLENCES THAN BENJAMIN. — BOUGHT A COPY OF THE SPECTA- TOR AND STUDIED IT LABORIOUSLY. — SORRY THAT HE DID NOT CONTINUE TO WRITE POETRY. — HIS FATHER'S COUNSEL. — HIS ECON- OMY OF TIME. — A BOOK ALWAYS BY HIS SIDE. — HIS MAXIMS ON THIS SUBJECT. — VIOLATING THE SABBATH TO GAIN TIME TO STUDY.

— USEFUL CONVERSATION AND TALKING NONSENSE. HUNDREDS

RUINED BY A SIMILAR CAUSE. — WALTER SCOTT HIDING NOVELS FROM HIS FATHER. — POPE GOING TO THE THEATRE. — EXCEPTIONS TO THE GENERAL RULE.

XI. Plain Fare 103

PROPOSITION TO BOARD HIMSELF. — BECAME A VEGETARIAN BY READING TRYON'S BOOK. — WHY HE DID IT. — HOW MUCH MONEY HE SAVED BY DOING IT. — SPENT IT FOR BOOKS. — HOW MUCH TIME SAVED ALSO. — COCKER'S ARITHMETIC. — OTHER BOOKS READ AT ODD MOMENTS. — HIS PLAN TO SAVE TIME. — HIS MAXIMS ON SAVING TIME. — AIM TO BE USEFUL. — THE ENGLISH GRAMMAR. — BHAFTESBURY'S works. — BENJAMIN A DOUBTER. — MAKES KNOWN HIS DOUBTS TO COLLINS. — DANGER OF READING ATTACKS UPON THE «OSPEL.

XII. The Newspaper 113

STARTING THE THIRD NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA. — OPPOSITION TO IT. — NUMBER OF NEWSPAPERS NOW. — FORTY MILLION SHEETS FROM EIGHT PRESSES. — SEVENTY-ONE MILES A DAY OF NEWSPAPERS FROM

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ONE OFFICE. — ALMOST ENOUGH TO REACH AROUND THE EARTH IN A TEAR. — WEIGH THESE PAPERS. — FOUR MILLION POUNDS IN A TEAR.

— TWO THOUSAND TWO-HORSE LOADS. — THE NEW ENGLAND COURANT STARTED. — PRINTER, NEWS-CARRIER, AND COLLECTOR. — THE CLUB. INCITED TO WRITE AN ARTICLE. — TUCKS IT UNDER PRINTING- OFFICE DOOR. — HEARS IT FAVORABLT COMMENTED ON. — WRITES OTHER ARTICLES. — THIS AN INCIDENT THAT DECIDES HIS CAREER.

— CANNING AT ETON AND THE "MICROCOSM." — SIMILAR PAPER IN SEMINARIES NOW.