_Franklin gives up eating Meat. His Economy of Time. Studies
Arithmetic. James Franklin establishes a Newspaper. Benjamin writes
for it. His Brother is imprisoned. Benjamin manages the Paper. Leaves
his Brother. Goes to New York. Sails thence for Philadelphia. Anecdote
of the Dutchman._
1. When about sixteen years of age, Franklin happened to meet with a
book that recommended a vegetable diet. He determined to adopt it. His
brother, being unmarried, did not keep house, but boarded himself and
his apprentices in another family. By refusing to eat meat, Franklin
occasioned a good deal of inconvenience; and he was frequently chid
for his singularity. He accordingly learned the manner of boiling
potatoes and rice, and of making hasty-pudding, and then proposed to
his brother, if he would give him, weekly, half the money he paid for
his board, to board himself. His brother instantly agreed to it, and
Franklin soon found that he could save half of what he received.
2. This was a new fund for buying books. But this was not the only
advantage. When his brother and the apprentices had gone to their
meals, he was left in the printing office alone. He immediately
despatched his slight repast, which was often no more than a biscuit,
or a slice of bread and a handful of raisins, or a tart from the
pastry cook's, and a glass of water, and had the rest of the time till
their return for study. By being thus economical of his time, he was
able to make considerable progress in his books.
3. He now began to feel the want of a knowledge of figures, and was
once very much mortified by his ignorance of them. As he had entirely
failed of learning them at school, he took Cocker's Arithmetic, and
went through the whole of it by himself with the greatest ease. The
mortification he had met with induced him to make great exertions; and
we can succeed in any thing to which we give our earnest attention.
4. While he was intent on improving his language and style, Franklin
met with an English grammar, at the end of which were two little
sketches on the arts of rhetoric and logic. The latter of these
finished with a dispute in the manner of Socrates, a very famous
philosopher of Greece. Franklin was charmed with this modest and
artful manner, and cured himself of the tricks of contradiction and
too much positiveness. These habits are very disagreeable, and no one
should allow himself to fall into them.
5. "In fact, if you wish to instruct others," says Franklin, "a
positive and dogmatical manner in advancing your sentiments may
occasion opposition, and prevent a candid attention. If you desire
improvement from others, you should not at the same time express
yourself fixed in your present opinions. Modest and sensible men, who
do not love disputation, will leave you undisturbed in the possession
of your errors. In adopting such a manner, you can seldom expect to
please your hearers, or obtain the concurrence you desire."
6. In the year 1720, or '21, James Franklin began to print a
newspaper. It was the second that appeared in America, and was called
the _New England Courant_. The only one before it was the _Boston
News Letter_. Some of his friends endeavored to dissuade him from
the undertaking. They thought it would not succeed, as, in their
opinion, one newspaper was sufficient for all America. There are now
in the United States alone, over eight hundred newspapers.
7. The undertaking, however, went on. Benjamin assisted in setting the
types, helped to print off the sheets, and was then employed in
carrying the papers to the subscribers. Several men of information and
talents wrote little pieces for the paper, which were amusing, and
gained considerable credit. These gentlemen often visited the printing
office.
8. Hearing their conversations, and their accounts of the praise their
pieces received from the public, Benjamin was excited to try his
fortune among them. He was afraid, however, as he was still a boy, his
brother would object to print any thing of his composition in the
paper. It was necessary, therefore, to disguise his hand-writing, and
to send his piece to the office in such a way that it should not be
known from whom it came.
9. When his friends came in, James showed them the communication from
an unknown writer. They read it, praised it, and made several guesses
as to the author. In these guesses none were named but men of some
character for talents and learning. They never once suspected it was
written by the little printer's boy who stood at their elbows,
chuckling in silence over the secret.
10. Encouraged by the success of this attempt, he continued to write,
and send other pieces in the same way to the press. He kept his secret
as long as he saw fit, and then confessed himself the author of the
writings they had been so long guessing about. Benjamin now began to
be more noticed by his brother's acquaintance, which made him a little
vain, and led to some serious difficulties.
11. His brother, notwithstanding the relationship between them,
considered himself as master, and Benjamin as his apprentice, and
accordingly expected the same services from him that he would from
another. In some of these services the young printer felt himself
degraded, and thought that he should receive greater indulgence. His
brother was passionate, and frequently beat him; and, finding the
apprenticeship exceedingly tedious, Benjamin was looking forward for
an opportunity to shorten it. This at length happened in a very
unexpected manner.
12. One of the pieces in the paper, on some political subject, gave
offence to the Assembly, one of the most important branches of the
government of Massachusetts. James Franklin was taken up, censured,
and imprisoned for a month, because he would not discover the author.
Benjamin was also called up and examined before the council; but,
considering him as an apprentice, who was bound to keep his master's
secret, they dismissed him without punishment.
13. During his brother's confinement, Benjamin had the management of
the paper, and indulged in very smart remarks upon the government.
This pleased his brother, though it made others look upon him in an
unfavorable light, as a youth who had a turn for satire and libeling.
The discharge of the imprisoned printer was accompanied with an order
that "James Franklin should no longer print the newspaper called the
New England Courant."
14. On a consultation held at the printing office, it was proposed, to
change the name of the paper, and in this manner elude the order of
the council. As there were many difficulties in the way of this
project, it was determined to let the paper for the future be printed
in the name of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
15. When apprentices are bound out, it is usual to have certain
agreements drawn up between them and their masters, sealed and signed
according to certain forms required by law. These papers are called
indentures. James was afraid that the censure of the Assembly would
fall on him, as still printing the paper by his apprentice, and
contrived that his old indenture should be returned to Benjamin, with
a discharge on the back of it.
16. This was to be shown only in case of necessity; and in order to
secure his services for the remainder of the time, it was agreed that
Benjamin should sign new indentures. These were to be kept private.
This was a very flimsy scheme, but the paper continued to be printed
in this manner for several months. At length fresh difficulties arose,
and Benjamin determined to take advantage of his discharge; thinking
that his brother would be afraid to produce the new indentures. It was
unfair to take this advantage, but he was urged to it by very unkind
and even cruel treatment.
17. When his brother found out his intentions, he went round to every
master printer in town to prevent his getting employment. In
consequence of this, he concluded to remove to New York; that being
the nearest place where there was another printer. His father opposed
his removal, and took side with his brother in the dispute. Benjamin
sold his books to furnish the means of paying his passage, went
privately on board of a sloop, had a fair wind, and in three days
found himself in New York, three hundred miles from home, at the age
of seventeen. There was no one in the place whom he knew; he was
without any recommendations, and had very little money in his pocket.
18. By this time he had entirely lost all his love for the sea, or he
might have been induced to gratify it. Having another profession, and
considering himself a good workman, he offered his services to a
printer of the place, old Mr. W. Bradford. This man had been the first
printer in Pennsylvania, and had removed from there in consequence of
a quarrel with the governor, General Keith.
19. He had a sufficient number of workmen, and little to do, and could
give Franklin no employment. But he said, "My son, at Philadelphia,
has lately lost his principal hand, Aquila Rose, by death, and if you
go thither, I believe he may employ you."
20. Philadelphia was one hundred miles farther, but Franklin concluded
to go there. In crossing the bay, a squall struck the little vessel he
was in, and tore her rotten sails to pieces. She was driven upon Long
Island.
21. On the way, a drunken Dutchman, who was a passenger in the boat,
tumbled overboard. As he was sinking, Franklin reached out and caught
him by a very bushy head of hair, and drew him up again. This sobered
him a little, and he went to sleep, having first taken a book out of
his pocket, which he desired Franklin to dry for him. It proved to be
a Dutch copy of his old favorite book, _Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress_,
and he carefully complied with the wish of the sleepy owner.
* * * * *
1. What induced Franklin to adopt a vegetable diet? What arrangement
did he make with his brother on this account?
2. What advantage resulted from this? Describe Benjamin's economy of
time.
3. How did he learn arithmetic?
4. With what treatise was Franklin so much pleased? Of what
disagreeable habits did it cure him?
5. What advice does he give on the manner of conversation?
6. Who printed the second newspaper in New England? What was it
called?
7. How was Benjamin connected with it?
8. What first induced him to write for it? Describe his first attempt.
9. How was his communication received?
10. What was the consequence of his success?
11. What were the difficulties between the brothers?
12. What happened at this time to James Franklin?
13. How did Benjamin conduct the paper? What was the order of the
council?
14. How was it evaded?
15. What is the custom in binding out apprentices? How was Benjamin
discharged from his indentures?
16. What unfair advantage did he take of this discharge?
17. What course did his brother pursue on this occasion? His father?
Benjamin?
18. To whom did he apply for employment?
19. With what success?
20. Where did he determine to go?
21. What is the anecdote of the Dutchman?