FRANKLIN'S OWN WRITINGS ON EDUCATION I PLAN OF DAILY EXAMINATIONS IN THE MORAL VIRTUES [The following list of thirteen virtues, with their precepts which expressed the meaning he gave to them, Franklin placed on separate pages in a little book which he carried with him for more than fifty years. Each day he graded himself upon these virtues, concentrating his attention for a week at the time upon a single virtue. The form of one page is also given; the virtue named at the top of the page is the one upon which he concentrated his attention for the week. Franklin's conception of what he accomplished by the use of this scheme is told in a quotation from his autobiography: "It may be well my posterity should be informed that to this little artifice, with the blessing of God, their ancestor owes the constant felicity of his life down to his seventy-ninth year, in which this is written. Whatever reverses may attend the remainder is in the hand of Providence; but if they arrive, the reflection on past happiness enjoyed ought to help his bearing them with more resignation."] LIST OF VIRTUES I. TEMPERANCE.-Eat not to dulness; drink not to elevation. 2. SILENCE.-Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation. 3. ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. 4. RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. 5. FRUGALITY.-Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; that is, waste nothing. 6. INDUSTRY.-Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. 7. SINCERITY.-Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; speak accordingly. 8. JUSTICE. -Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty. 9. MODERATION.—Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think you deserve. IO. CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation. II. TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles or at accidents common or unavoidable. 12. CHASTITY. 13. HUMILITY. - Imitate Jesus and Socrates. II FATHER ABRAHAM'S SPEECH [This speech is a compilation and rearrangement of the prefaces, proverbs, and poems of Poor Richard's Almanacs. It is Franklin's masterpiece. He wrote it after twenty-five years' use had been made of Poor Richard's sayings. It is a little classic with which every one should be familiar. Its teachings, if followed, would give strength and happiness to many lives now weak and wretched.] I HAVE heard that nothing gives an author so great pleasure as to find his works respectfully quoted by other learned authors. This pleasure I have seldom enjoyed; for though I have been, if I may say it without vanity, an eminent author (of almanacs) annually, now a full quarter of a century, my brother authors in the same way, for what reason I know not, have ever been very sparing in their applause, and no other author has taken the least notice of me; so that, did not my writings produce me some solid pudding, the great deficiency of praise would have quite discouraged me. I concluded, at length, |