The printer boy

Front matter

Glass C 5 '3/"; Book ' (d

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THE

Preface

This book is one of a series, the design of which is to illustrate the familiar maxim, that " the boy is father OP THE MAN." The early life of Franklin is sketched from his childhood to the time he was established in business, 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 PREFACE.

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 maxima 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

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

Contents

TU Wlmtle l

THE HOLIDAT. — THE COPPERS IN BENJAMIN FKANKLIN'S POCKET. — INQUIRY. — BOUNDING OUT. — THE TOT-SHOP THEN AND NOW. — THE BOY AND HIS WHISTLE. — RESOLVED TO PURCHASE. — THE BAR- GAIN. — GOING HOME. — MAKING MUSIC. — DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PRICE. — A POCKET FULL OF GOOD THINGS. — BENJAMIN CRYING OVER HIS WHISTLE. — A BENEFIT. — %VHAT FRANKLIN SAID OF IT SIXTY YEARS AFTER. — BOYS DO NOT LEARN FROM THE PAST. — OTHER WAYS OF PAYING TOO DEAR FOR A WHISTLE. — DECEIT AND FALSEHOOD. — TIPPLING. — WORLDLY PLEASURE.

II

TALK ABOUT SCHOOL. — BROTHERS AT TRADES. — BENJABIIN FOR THE CHURCH. — EARLY LEARNED TO READ. — LONG PROCESS TO PRE- PARE FOR MINISTRY. — " UNCLE BENJAMIN'S " REMARKS AND OFFER, — WHO IS "uncle BENJAMIN." — A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. — WHEN BENJAMIN WAS BORN. — BAPTIZED ON SAME DAY HE WAS BORN. — THE RECORD. — DESCRIPTION OP 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 RITTENHOUSK AND GEORGE STEPHENSON. — HOPES OF BENJAMIN.

VI CONTENTS.

III. A CMnge 19

CONVKRSATION 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. BROWN WELL' 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.

IV

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 ^V^THOUT DRONES. — BENJAMIN'^ MAXIMS 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 OP 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 MARKING IN THE SAND. — WEBSTER'S POCKET-HANDKERCHIEF. — ROGER SHERMAN AT HIS BENCH. — BOYS NOT EXCUSED FROM SCHOOL BY THESE EXAMPLES. — BENEFIT OF A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE. — SAVED BENJAMIN RUSSELL IN THUNDER-STORM. — HOW STEPHENSON FELT FOR HIS SON.

CONTENTS. Vii

V

" ALL ABOARD." — THE QUAGMIRE. — PROPOSAL TO BUILD A W^ARF, — 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 BON. — BOYS SHOULD BE IN EVENINGS. — ADVANTAGB OF READING. — LETTER TO A GIRL ON THE SUBJECT.

VI

INTERVIEW WITH A FRIEND. — HIS ANCESTORS. — THEIR HARD- SHIPS. — DENIED LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE. — THE BIBLE UNDER THB 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 GOOb CONVERSATION. — HIS FATHER'S REMARKS ABOUT FOOD. — BENJAMIN TEMPERATE IN EATING AND DRINKING. — " THE WATER-AMERICAN."

— NO TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES THEN. — TABLE-TALK 'SO'H. — A TABLE SCENE.

VII. Still Opposed To Caitole-makinq. — A Dirty, Simple Business

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

Vlll CONTENTS.

GATHERS NO MOSS." — AFRAID HE WILL GO TO SEA. — BIINJAMIN'S VIEWS AND MAXIMS. — OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE A TRADE. — OOING TO SEE DIFFERENT TRADES. — DEVOTES A DAY TO IT. — JOINER'S, TURNER'S, AND BRICKLAYER'S WORK. — CUTLERY SHOP, HIS COUSIN'S. WinCH 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

TAKEN AWAY FROM COUSIN SAMUEL. — HIS BROTHER'S RETURN FROM ENGLAND. — SETTING UP PRINTING BUSINESS. — PROPOSAL TO BENJAMIN. — 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 SITl/NG UP NIGHTS. — MR. ADAMS'S LIBRARY AND 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. — EXAMPLE OF LORD BROUGHAM.

IX. First Literary Enterprise ... .85

A PIECB OF POETRY. — PRONOUNCED GOOD. — PROPOSITION TO PRINT HIS ARTICLES. — " THE LIGHT-HOUSE TRAGEDY." — A SAILOR'S

SONG. PRINTING THEM. — SELLING THEM IN THE STREETS. — A

BUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISE. — HIS FATHER OPPOSES. — CONDEMNS PO- ETRY IN GENERAL AND BENJAMIN'S IN PARTICULAR. — A SE\EMB5 REBUKE. — CRESTFALLEN. — CONFERENCE WITH JAMES. — HIS FA- THER'S CENSURE A BENEFIT. — PRACTICE OF WRITING COMPOSITION EXCELLENT. — HOW IT BENEFITED BENJAMIN, EVEN PECUNIARILY. — THE farmer's SON AND MINISTER.

CONTENTS. IX

X. The Dispute 93

DISPUTE WITH JOHN COLLINS. — A BOOKISH FELLOW. — THE EDU- CATION OF GIKLS. — THE CONTROVERSIAL CORRESPONDENCE. — HIS FATHER J"INDS 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

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. — SHAFTESBURY'S WORKS. — BENJAMIN A DOUBTER. — MAKES KNOWN HIS DOUBTS TO COLLINS. — DANGER OF READING ATTACKS UPON THB GOSPEL.

XII

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

a*

X CONTENTS.

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

— 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 FAVORABLY COMMENTED ON. — WRITES OTHER ARTICLES. — THIS AN INCIDENT THAT DECIDES HIS CAREER.

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

XIII. The Cent out of the Bag 122

EAGER TO OWN THE PIECES. — ^DISCLOSES THE AUTHORSHIP TO JAMES. — INTERVIEW WITH THE CLUB. — SURPRISE THAT BENJAMIN WROTE THEM. — TREATED WITH ATTENTION BY THE CLUB. — OP- PRESSED BY JAMES. — TROUBLE WITH HIM. — BENJAMIN RESOLVES TO LEAVE HIM. — THE PRINTING-OFFICE FURNISHES MANY SCHOLARS. — A NEW ENGLAND DIVINE. — BENJAMIN DIRECTED IN PATH TO WHICH NATIVE ENDOWMENTS POINTED. — SO OF LORD NELSON. — ANECDOTE OF HIM. — BUXTON, WILBERFORCE, AND OTHERS. — EXAM- PLE OF THE AUTHOR OF THE " OPTIC LIBRARY."

XIV. The Arrest 129

ACTION OF GENERAL COURT TO ARREST JAMES FRANKLIN FOB LIBEL. — THE LEGISLATIVE ORDER. -^ JAMES IMPRISONED FOUB WEEKS, AND BENJAMIN ARRESTED, BUT DISCHARGED. — THE IMME- DIATE CAUSE OF THE ARREST. — MEETING OF THE CLUB. — DECISION TO PUBLISH THE PAPER IN BENJAMIN'S NAME. — SHREWD EVASION. — YOUNGEST CONDUCTOR OP A PAPER WHO EVER LIVED. — HIS THRUSTS AT THE GOVERNMENT. — BENJAMIN BORN IN TROUBLOUS TIMES. — ATTACKS AND MASSACRES BY THE SAVAGES. — PREPARED THEREBY TO ACT IN ACHIEVING INDEPENDENCE. — BEARS IN BOSTON.

CONTENTS. XI

XV. The Runaway 136

A QUAEREL. — ASSERTTNQ HIS FREEDOM. — STATEMENT OF TIIK CASE. — APPEAL TO HIS FATHER. — HIS FATHER'S DECISION. — LEAVES HIS BROTHER. — FAILS TO GET WORK. — CHARGED WITH BEING AN INFIDEL. — PLANS TO RUN AWAY. — CONFERENCE WITH COLLINS.— HIS PLAN TO GET AWAY. — COLLINS' S TALK WITH THE CAPTAIN OF A NEW YORK SLOOP, AND HIS BASE LIE. — BENJAMIN BOARDS THE SLOOP. — ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK. — HIS LONELY CON- DITION. — GUILT OF A RUNAWAY. — QUARREL BETWEEN BROTHERS PAINFUL. — CASE OF WILLIAM HUTTON. — LINES OF DR. WATTS.