PREFACE THE life of Benjamin Franklin is stranger than fiction. Its realities surpass the idealities of novelists. Imagination would scarcely venture to portray such victories over poverty, obscurity, difficulties, and hardships. The tact, application, perseverance, and industry, that he brought to his life-work, make him an example for all time. He met with defeats; but they inspired him to manlier efforts. His successes increased his de sire for something higher and nobler. He was satisfied only with going up still higher. He be lieved that "one to-day is worth two to-morrows"; and he acted accordingly, with the candle-shop and printing office for his school-room, and Observation for his teacher. His career furnishes one of the noblest examples of success for the young of both sexes to study. We offer his life as one of the brightest and best in Ameri. can history to inspire young hearts with lofty aims. No The first and principal source of material for this book was Franklin's "Autobiography." other authority, or treasure of material, can take the place of that. Biographics by Sparks, Sar 19 FEB '36 gent, Abbott, and Parton have been freely consulted, together with "Franklin in France," and various eulogies and essays upon his life and character. That Franklin was the real father of the American Union, is the view which the author of this biography presents. It is the view of Bancroft, "Not half of Franklin's merits have been told. He was the true father of the American Union. It was he who went forth to lay the foundation of that great design at Albany; and in New York he lifted up his voice. Here among us he appeared as the apostle of the Union. It was Franklin who suggested the Congress of 1774; and but for his wisdom, and the confidence that wisdom inspired, it is a matter of doubt whether that Congress would have taken effect. It was Franklin who suggested the bond of the Union which binds these States from Florida to Maine. Franklin was the greatest diplomatist of the eighteenth century. He never spoke a word too soon; he never spoke a word too much; he never failed to speak the right word at the right season." The closing years of Franklin's life were SO identified with the Union of the States, and the election and inauguration of Washington as the first President, that his biography becomes a fitting companion to the WHITE HOUSE SERIES. CONTENTS I. FROM OLD ENGLAND TO NEW ENGLAND. Persecution. Driving Franklin and Others Away - Discussion - II. THE FIFTEENTH GIFT. Birth of Benjamin Franklin on Sunday-The Fifteenth -- - Seven Years Old — First Money to Spend as He Pleased — Ad- vice Gratis-Boy with Whistle — Benjamin Buys a Whistle Going into the Concert Business Scene in the Family Tormented by John for Paying All His Money - Ben Breaks Down-Father and Mother Takes His Part-The Lesson He Learned-What He Wrote about It at Seventy-two Years of Age - When Boys Pay Too Dear for the Whistle- Uncle Benjamin and His Poetry - His Family - His Letter thaniel Williams, Teacher - Description of School-house- Poverty Forces Him to Leave School-His Mother's View- Hard Time for Ministers - Brownell's School of Penman- ship-How Ben Could Help His Father-Boys Put to Work Young Then - His Obedience — A Well-Disciplined Boy - Incident of His Manhood to Rebuke a Landlord- |