CHAPTER III.

A CHANGE.

Conversation 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 Citizens of Boston-Obedience of the Peel Boys-Harry

Garland-Stephenson's Noble Act to his Parents—The

Eight Brothers at Inauguration of the Franklin Statue-

Progress in Penmanship--Beloved by Teacher 19-28

CHAPTER IV.

MAKING CANDLES.

Put to Candle-making at Ten Years of Age-His Father a Tal-

low-chandler-Benjamin opposed to it-Importance of

Industry-His Father's Hive without Drones—Benjamin's

Maxims about Industry in Later Life-" The used key

always 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-Ben-

jamin 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-handker-

chief-Roger Sherman at his Bench-Boys not excused

from School by these Examples-Benefit of a Little Know-

ledge-Saved Benjamin Russell in Thunder-storm-How

Stephenson felt for his Son

29-43

CHAPTER V.

THE ROGUE'S WHARF.

"All Abroad"-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-Keep-

ing the Secret-Benjamin's Father finds him out-Ben-

jamin 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 at Home in Even-

ings-Advantage of Reading-Letter to a Girl on the Sub-

44-54

ject

CHAPTER VI.

TABLE TALK.

Interview with a Friend-His Ancestors-Their Hardships-

Denied Liberty of Conscience-The Bible under the Stool

-Leaving the Church of England-Emigration for Reli-

gious Freedom-Conversation on Useful Themes at Table

-No Complaints allowed about Food-Guests introduced

and sensible Remarks made-Effect 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
55-63

CHAPTER VII.

CHOOSING A TRADE.

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 gathers no moss"-Afraid he will go to Sea-Ben-

jamin's Views and Maxims-Opportunity to choose a

Trade-Going to see different Trades-Devotes a Day to

it-Joiners', Turners', and Bricklayers' Work-Cutlery

Shop, his Cousin's-Which Trade he chose-His Father's

Decision-Arrangement to learn to make Cutlery-Wise

to Consult Taste and Tact of Benjamin-Handel the

Musician-Sir Joshua Reynolds-Father of John Smeaton

-Opposing a Child's Bent of Mind
64-75

CHAPTER VIII.

THE PRINTER-BOY.

Taken Away from Cousin Samuel-His Brother's Return from

England-Setting Up the 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 sitting

up at Night-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 punctual

Example of Lord

Brougham

-

76-84

CHAPTER IX.

FIRST LITERARY ENTERPRISE.

A Piece of Poetry-Pronounced Good-Proposition to Print

his Articles "The Lighthouse Tragedy"-A Sailor's

Song-Printing them-Selling them in the Streets-

A Successful Enterprise-His Father opposes-Condemns

Poetry 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 Benjamin, even Pecuniarily

-The Farmer's Son and Minister

85-92

CHAPTER X.

THE DISPUTE.

Dispute with John Collins-A Bookish Fellow-The Educa-

tion of Girls-The Controversial Correspondence-His

Father finds the Letters-His Cricticisms-Collins versus

Benjamin-Bought a Copy of the Spectator and studied it

laboriously-Sorry that he did not continue to write

Poetry-His Father's Counsel-His Economy of Time-

A Book always by his side-His Maxims on this Subject

-Violating the Sabbath to gain Time for 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
93-103

CHAPTER XI.

PLAIN FARE.

Proposition to board Himself-Became a Vegetarian by Read-

ing 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 Eng-

lish Grammar-Shaftesbury's Works-Benjamin a Doubter

-Makes known his Doubts to Collins-Danger of Reading

Attacks upon the Gospel

104-113

CHAPTER XII.

THE NEWSPAPER.

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 One Office--Almost enough to reach around the
Earth in a Year-Weigh these Papers-Four Million
Pounds in a Year-Two Thousand Two-Horse Loads-
The New England Courant started-Printer, News-car-
rier, and Collector-The Club-Incited to write an Article
-Tucks it under Printing-office Door-Hears it favour-
ably commented on-Writes other Articles-This
Incident that decides his Career-Canning at Eton and
the "Microcosm"-Similar Paper in Seminaries now

an

114-122

CHAPTER XIII.

THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.

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-Oppressed

by James-Trouble with him-Benjamin resolves to leave

him-The Printing-office furnishes many Scholars-A

New England Divine-Benjamin directed in the Path to

which his Native Endowments pointed-So of Lord Nelson

-Anecdote of him-Buxton, Wilberforce, and Others-

Example of the Author of the " Optic Library" 123-129

CHAPTER XIV.

THE ARREST.

Action of General Court to Arrest James Franklin for Libel-
The Legislative Order-James imprisoned four weeks,
and Benjamin arrested, but discharged-The immediate
Cause of the Arrest-Meeting of the Club-Decision to
publish the Paper in Benjamin's Name-Shrewd Evasion-
Youngest Conductor of 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

130-136