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The
PRINTER BOY.
OR
HOW
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
MADE HIS MARK.
AN EXAMPLE FOR YOUTH.
BY
WILLIAM. M. THAYER
AUTHOR OF "THE BOBBIN BOY", "TALES FROM THE BIBLE", ETC.
[Illustration: Medallion of Benjamin Franklin.]
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
JULIAN PORTCH
ENGRAVED BY
BALE & HOLMAN.
LONDON
JAMES HOGG & SONS
[Illustration: "How much did you give for your whistle!"--See page 4.]
PREFACE.
This book is designed to illustrate the familiar maxim, that "THE BOY
IS FATHER TO 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 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 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.
W. M. T.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
THE WHISTLE.
The Holiday--The Coppers in Benjamin Franklin's Pocket--Inquiry--
Bounding Out--The Toy-Shop Then and Now--The Boy and his
Whistle--Resolved to Purchase--The Bargain--Going Home--Making
Music--Discussion about the Price--A Pocketful of Good Things--
Benjamin crying over his Whistle--A Benefit--What 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 1-8
CHAPTER II.
AT SCHOOL.
Talk about School--Brothers at Trades--Benjamin for the Church--
Early learned to Read--Long Process of Preparation for the
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 of his Birthplace--
Early Love of Books--His Father's Violin--Poor but Industrious--
Seventeen 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 to the Man--Daniel
Webster--David Rittenhouse and George Stephenson--Hopes of
Benjamin 9-18
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 Feelings--Character of
Schools then--Mr. Brownwell's Writing-school--Benjamin's
Obedience--His Father Strict--Keeping the Sabbath--Lore 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 Tallow-
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--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 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--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 at Home in Evenings--Advantage of Reading--Letter to a
Girl on the Subject 44-54
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 Religious 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--Benjamin'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 Father'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 Education of
Girls--The Controversial Correspondence--His Father finds the
Letters--His Criticisms--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 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 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-carrier, and Collector--The Club--Incited to
write an Article--Tucks it under Printing-office Door--Hears it
favourably commented on--Writes other Articles--This an Incident
that decides his Career--Canning at Eton and the
"Microcosm"--Similar Paper in Seminaries now 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
CHAPTER XV.
THE RUNAWAY.
A Quarrel--Asserting his Freedom--Statement of the 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 Condition--Guilt of a
Runaway--Quarrel between Brothers painful--Case of William
Hutton--Lines of Dr. Watts 137-147
CHAPTER XVI.
ANOTHER TRIP AND ITS TRIALS.
Calls on Printer Bradford in New York--No Work--Recommended to go to
Philadelphia--Arranges for the Trip--Starts for Philadelphia--The
Drunken Dutchman--His wet Volume and Bottle--Struck by a Squall--A
sad Night off Long Island--Benjamin's Feelings--The next morning--
Storm subsides--Next night on shore--Advantage of a little Reading--
Boys lose nothing by spending leisure Hours in Reading--The Young
Man in Maine--Discipline of the Mind--Case of Gibbon--What
Boys say--Sir Walter Scott in Boyhood, and his warning Words--
Benjamin leaving Amboy--Fifty Miles on Foot--Suspected of
being a Runaway--Reaches the Quack Doctor's Tavern--Arrival at
Burlington--The Gingerbread Woman--The Boat gone--Going back to the
Gingerbread Woman--His Walk--The unexpected Boat and his Passage--In
Cooper's Creek at Midnight--Reached Philadelphia on Sunday
Morning--The Shilling--The Boy and his Loaf--Going up Market Street
with a Baker's Loaf under each Arm--Miss Read--Asleep in a Quaker
Church--Suspected again of being a Runaway--First Night in
Philadelphia 148-166
CHAPTER XVII.
GETTING WORK.
Call upon Andrew Bradford--His Surprise--Disappointment--Directed to
Keimer--The Interview--Advantage of Thoroughness--Benjamin did
things well--Bradford's Talk with Keimer--Keimer ensnared--Benjamin
makes a Disclosure--Keimer astonished--Repairing a Printing-press--
At work for Keimer--Goes to Board at Mr. Read's--His Power of
Observation--Stephenson like him--William Hutton again and
his Dulcimer--Perseverance--Not proud--How many Boys would have
done--Maxims 167-175
CHAPTER XVIII.
NEWS FROM HOME, AND RETURN.
The Unexpected Letter--Benjamin's Reply--Governor Keith calls to see
him--Surprise of Keimer--Invites him to the Tavern--Advises him to
set up Business for Himself--Benjamin's Objections overruled--Decides
to return to Boston to ask his Father's Assistance--How the Governor
learned of Benjamin--His Return to Boston--Joy at Home--His
gentlemanly appearance--Goes to his Brother's Printing-office--
Cold Reception--Interview with the Workmen--Exhibition of his Silver
Coin--His Watch--The Dollar "Treat"--James incensed--Interview with
his Mother--Stating Business to his Father, and giving him the
Governor's Letter--His Father's Talk with Captain Homes--His
Father's Denial--Collins returns with him 176-178
CHAPTER XIX.
BACK AGAIN.
Sails for New York--Stops at Newport and visits his Brother--The New
Passengers--The Old Quaker Lady's Attention--A Narrow Escape--Arrival
in New York--Collins there first and intoxicated--Makes a Confession
to Benjamin--Owns that he gambles--Loses all his Money--Message from
Governor Burnet--Benjamin goes to see him--Trip to Philadelphia--
Collects Vernon's Debt--Takes Collins to board with him--Throws
Collins into the River Delaware--The Fate of Collins--Interview
with Governor Keith--The Governor promises to set him up in
Business. 188-195
CHAPTER XX.
A LITERARY GAME.
The Three Associates--Their Characters--Discussion about Poets and
Poetry--A Proposition to Paraphrase the Eighteenth Psalm--Osborne's
Prejudice, and how to prove him--Benjamin reads Ralph's Piece as his
own--The Success of the Ruse--Subsequent Interview of Benjamin and
Ralph--Their Delight over the Result--The Exposure of Osborne at the
next Meeting--His Mortification--Fate of Watson and Osborne--
Advantage of such Literary Clubs 196-203
CHAPTER XXI.
GOING TO ENGLAND.
Interview with Governor Keith--Arrangements to go to England in the
Annis--Only one vessel a year to sail--Still works for Keimer--The
latter a singular Man--Experiment of a Vegetable Diet--Keimer's
Abhorrence of it--Eats the whole of a Pig at last--How Benjamin came
to relinquish a Vegetable Diet--Courting Miss Read--Her Mother
objects to Engagement--Ralph resolves to go with him--Four or Five
Printing-offices then, and Two or Three Thousand now--The Governor's
Letters--Set Sail--Arrival in London--Discovers that his Letters are
Worthless--The Governor a Deceiver--Tells his Story to Denham--Goes
to Work in a Printing-office--An Advantage of written Composition--
His "Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain"--Won
him Fame--Bargain with a Bookseller--Beer-drinking in the Office--
Benjamin's Opposition to it--He wrought a Reform--His Firmness and
Independence--Swimming--Drawn a Mile by his Kite on the Water--
Advised to open a Swimming-School--Decides on Returning to
America--A Scene forty years after 204-219
CHAPTER XXII.
FAREWELL TO ENGLAND.
Arrival in Philadelphia--Calls on Keimer--Meets Governor Keith in
the Street--Interview with Miss Read--His want of Fidelity--Denham
opened a Store, and Benjamin was his Clerk--The Sickness of
both--Denham dies--Benjamin thrown out of Business--Returns to his
Trade, and works for Keimer--Legacy from Denham--His Fidelity always
pleased his Employers--Many Youth do not care for the Employer's
Success--Fidelity one Secret of Benjamin's Success--The Oxford
Student--Dangers of Theatrical Amusements and Bad Company--Trouble
with Keimer--Refuses to work for him--Arrangements to go into
Business with Meredith 220-229
CHAPTER XXIII.
SETTING UP BUSINESS.
The Inventory--Keimer's Message--At Burlington--Friends made
there--Interview with the Surveyor-general--Opening his Office--
Samuel Mickle--His Croaking--The Result--Poetical Notice in the
Printing-office--His Resolution in the Outset--His Industry--
Prophecies about Failure--The Every-Night Club--The Lounger
rebuked--Franklin never above his Business--Case of Judge
Marshall--Economy--How he began to Keep House--Maxims--
Integrity--The Slanderer turned away--Socrates and Archelaus--
Business prosperous--Hopes and Fears--Coleman and Grace, and
their Offer--Talk with Meredith, and the Latter leaves 230-243
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE JUNTO.
A Literary Club--What Franklin said of it--A New Proposition for a
Library--Scarcity of Books--Franklin the Father of Circulating
Libraries--Size of the First Library now--Questions asked by the
"Junto"--Their Practical Character--Questions Discussed--Members
limited to Twelve--No Improvement on the "Junto"--Franklin's Hand
seen in it--All but one or two Members became Respectable, and most
of them distinguished Men--Studying French, Italian, and Spanish--
Playing Chess--Studying Latin--The "Junto" Copied in England--
Canning--Franklin begins to think more of Religion--Doubting his
Doubts--A Minister calls upon him--Goes to Meeting--The Fatal
Sermon--Power of Conscience--Prays, and his Form of Prayer--
His Book of Goodness--Rules of Conduct, and what they
show 244-253
CHAPTER XXV.
CONCLUSION.
The Printer Boy and Man--His Brother reconciled to him--Rears his
Nephew--Holds important Offices--Refuses Patent of a Stove--Gift to
English Clergyman--Improves Street Lamps--Forms Fire-Company--
Organizes Militia--A Schedule of the Offices he filled and the
Honours he Won--Honoured in France, and all Europe--Societies
and Towns named after him--A Library Presented to the Town of
Franklin, Mass.--His Remark about more Sense than Sound--
Washington's Praise of him--Action of Congress--Demonstrations
of Respect in France--A Benjamin truly, and not a Ben-Oni--
Regretting his early disregard of Religion--His Benevolence--
Emptied his Pockets for Whitefield--His Humanity, and Words of
a Biographer--His Reverence for God in High Places--Proposed the
First Fast--Advocates Prayers in the National Convention--The
Young Man at his Death-bed--His Last Words for the Bible 254-264
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
"HOW MUCH DID YOU GIVE FOR YOUR WHISTLE?" _Frontispiece_
MEDALLION OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN _Vignette Title_
THE ROGUE'S WHARF _Page_ 44
THE MYSTERIOUS CONTRIBUTOR 123
FRANKLIN SAVING THE DUTCHMAN 149
MISS READ'S FIRST GLIMPSE OF HER FUTURE HUSBAND 162
ANECDOTE OF DR. MATHER AND FRANKLIN--HUMILITY "BEATEN IN!" 186
"SAWDUST PUDDING"--ANECDOTE OF FRANKLIN'S INDEPENDENCE 242
THE PRINTER-BOY.
CHAPTER I.
THE WHISTLE.
It was a bright, welcome holiday to little Benjamin Franklin, when his
kind parents put some coppers into his pocket, to spend as he saw fit.
Possibly it was the first time he was ever permitted to go out alone
into the streets of Boston with money to spend for his own pleasure;
for he was now but seven years old.
"Can I have more coppers when these are gone?" he inquired.
"No," replied his mother, "you have quite as many now as will be for
your welfare, I think. You must be a good boy, and keep out of
mischief."
"What are you going to buy?" asked an older brother; and without
waiting for a reply, he answered the question himself, by saying,
"Candy, of course."
"Lay out your money wisely," added his mother; "I shall want to see
how much wisdom you display in your purchases. Remember 'all is not
gold that glitters.'"
His mother had scarcely ceased speaking, when Benjamin bounded out of
the house, eager to enjoy the anticipated pleasures of the day. Like
other boys, on such occasions, his head was filled with bewitching
fancies, and he evidently expected such a day of joy as he never had
before. First in his thoughts stood the toy-shop, into the windows of
which he had often looked wistfully, although it was a small affair
compared with the Boston toy-shops of the present day. Every article
in it could have been examined in one or two hours, while now it would
take as many days to view all the articles in one of these
curiosity-shops. It is almost wonderful, and even fabulous, this
multiplication of playthings for the children. There seems to be no
end to them, and many a girl and boy have been put to their "wits'
end" to know what to choose out of the thousands of articles arranged
on the shelves.
Benjamin had not proceeded far before he met a boy blowing away upon,
a new-bought whistle, as if its music were sweeter than the voice of
lark or nightingale. He could scarcely help envying him the happiness
of owning so valuable a treasure. He stopped and looked at him with an
expression of delight, and they exchanged glances that showed a
genuine sympathy springing up between them. At once he resolved to
possess a similar musical instrument, as I suppose it may be called;
and away he hastened to the toy-shop, knowing that it must have been
purchased there.
"Any whistles?" he inquired.
"Plenty of them," answered the proprietor, with a smile, as he brought
forth a number, to the amazement of his little customer.
"I will give you all the money I have for one," said Benjamin, without
waiting to inquire the price, so enthusiastic was he to become the
possessor of such a prize.
"Ah! all you have?" responded the merchant. "Perhaps you have not so
much as I ask for them. You see these are very nice whistles."
"I know it," added Benjamin, "and I will give you all the money I have
for one," still more afraid that he should not be able to obtain one.
"How much money have you?"
Benjamin told him honestly just how much he had, and the merchant
agreed to give him a whistle in exchange for it.
Never was a child more delighted than he, when the bargain was made.
He tried every whistle, that he might select the one having the most
music in it; and when his choice was settled, he turned his steps
towards home. He thought no more of other sights and scenes, and cared
not for sweetmeats and knick-knacks, now that he owned this wonderful
thing. He reached home and hurried into the house, blowing his
whistle lustily as he went, as if he expected to astonish the whole
race of Franklins by the shrillness, if not by the sweetness, of his
music.
"What have you there, Benjamin?" inquired his mother.
"A whistle," he answered, hardly stopping his blowing long enough to
give a reverent reply.
"You got back quick, it seems to me," she continued. "Have you seen
all that is to be seen?"
"All I want to see," he answered; which was very true. He was so
completely carried away with his whistle that he had lost all his
interest in everything else belonging to the holiday. His cup of
delight was running over now that he could march about the house with
musical sounds of his own making.
"How much did you give for your whistle?" asked one of his cousins,
who was present.
"All the money I had," he replied.
"What!" exclaimed his brother, "did you give all your money for that
little concern?"
"Yes, every cent of it."
"You are not half so bright as I thought you were," continued his
brother. "It is four times as much as the whistle is worth."
"You should have asked the price of it, in the first place," said his
mother. "Some men will take all the money they can get for an
article. Perhaps he did not ask so much as you gave for it."
"If you had given a reasonable price for it," said his brother, "you
might have had enough left to have bought a pocketful of good things."
"Yes," added his cousin, "peppermints, candy, cakes, and more perhaps;
but it is the first time he ever went a shopping on a holiday."
"I must confess you are a smart fellow, Ben" (as he was familiarly
called by the boys), "to be taken in like that," continued his
brother, rather deridingly. "All your money for that worthless thing,
that is enough to make us crazy! You ought to have known better.
Suppose you had had twice as much money, you would have given it all
for the whistle, I suppose, if this is the way you trade."
"Perhaps he would have bought two or three of them in that case," said
his cousin, at the same time looking very much as if he intended to
make sport of the young whistler.
By this time Benjamin, who had said nothing in reply to their taunts
and reproofs, was running over with feeling, and he could hold in no
longer. He burst into tears, and made even more noise by crying than
he had done with his whistle. Both their ridicule and the thought of
having paid so much more than he ought for the article, overcame him,
and he found relief in tears. His mother came to the rescue, by
saying--
"Never mind, Benjamin, you will understand better next time. We must
all live and learn. Perhaps you did about as well as most boys of your
age would."
"I think so, too," said his cousin; "but we wanted to have a little
sport, seeing it is a holiday. So wipe up, 'Ben,' and we will have a
good time yet."
On the whole, it was really a benefit that Benjamin paid too much for
his whistle. For he learned a lesson thereby which he never forgot. It
destroyed his happiness on that holiday, but it saved him from much
unhappiness in years to come. More than sixty years afterwards, when
he was in France, he wrote to a friend, rehearsing this incident of
his childhood, and said--
"This, however, was afterwards of use to me, the impression continuing
on my mind; so that often, when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary
thing, I said to myself, _Don't give too much for the whistle_; and I
saved my money.
"As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men, I
thought I met with many, very many who _gave too much for the
whistle_.
"When I saw one too ambitious of court favour, sacrificing his time in
attendance on levées, his repose, his liberty, his virtue, and,
perhaps, his friends, to attain it, I have said to myself, _This man
gives too much for his whistle_.
"When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly employing himself
in political bustles, neglecting his own affairs, and ruining them by
that neglect, _He pays, indeed_, said I, _too much for his whistle_.
"If I see one fond of appearance, or fine clothes, fine houses, fine
furniture, fine equipages, all above his fortune, for which he
contracts debts, and ends his career in a prison, _Alas!_ say I, _he
has paid dear, very dear for his whistle_.
"When I see a beautiful, sweet-tempered girl married to an ill-natured
brute of a husband, _What a pity_, say I, _that she should pay so much
for a whistle!_
"In short, I conceive that great part of the miseries of mankind are
brought upon them by the false estimates they have made of the value
of things, and by their _giving too much for their whistle_."
Thus Benjamin made a good use of one of the foolish acts of his
boyhood, which tells well for both his head and heart. Many boys are
far less wise, and do the same foolish thing over and over again. They
never learn wisdom from the past. Poor, simple, pitiable class of
boys!
Let the reader prove himself another Benjamin Franklin in this
respect. Remember that there is more than one way _to pay too dear for
a whistle_, and he is wisest who tries to discover them all.
When a boy equivocates, or deceives, to conceal some act of
disobedience from his parents or teachers, and thereby lays the
foundations for habitual untruthfulness, he pays too dear for the
whistle; and he will learn the truth of it when he becomes older, and
cannot command the confidence of his friends and neighbours, but is
branded by them as an unreliable, dishonest man.
In like manner, the boy who thinks it is manly to smoke, and fill the
wine-cup, will find that he has a very expensive whistle, when he
becomes "hail fellow well met" among a miserable class of young men,
and is despised and discarded by the virtuous and good.
So, in general, the young person who is fascinated by worldly
pleasure, and supposes that wealth and honour are real apples of gold
to the possessor, thinking less of goodness and a life of piety than
he does of mere show and worldliness, will find that he has been
playing with a costly whistle, when age and his last sickness comes,
and death confronts him with its stern realities.