a good scholar, encouraged him in this purpose of his. My Uncle Benjamin, too, approved of it, and proposed to give me all his sermons, I suppose as a stock to set up with. I continued, however, at the grammar school not quite one 5 year, though in that time I had risen gradually from the middle of the class of that year to be the head of it, and further was removed into the next class above it in order to go with that into the third at the end of the year. But my father altered his first intention, took me from 10 the grammar school, and sent me to a school for writing and arithmetic, kept by a then famous man, very successful in his profession generally, and that by mild, encouraging methods. Under him I acquired fair writing pretty soon, but I failed in the arithmetic, and made no progress in it. 15 At ten years old I was taken home to assist my father in his business, which was that of a candle-maker and soapboiler. I disliked the trade, and had a strong inclination for the sea, but my father declared against it; however, living near the water, I was much in and about it, learned 20 early to swim well, and to manage boats; and when in a boat or canoe with other boys, I was commonly allowed to govern, especially in any case of difficulty. Upon other occasions I was generally a leader among the boys, and sometimes led them into scrapes, of which I will 25 mention one instance, as it shows early public spirit. There was a salt marsh that bounded part of the millpond, on the edge of which, at high water, we used to fish for minnows. By much trampling we had made it a mere quagmire. My proposal was to build a wharf there fit for us to stand upon, and I showed my comrades a large heap of stones, which were intended for a new house near the marsh, and which would very well suit our pur- 5 pose. Accordingly, in the evening, when the workmen were gone, I assembled a number of my playfellows, and working with them diligently like so many ants, sometimes two or three to a stone, we brought them all away and built our little wharf. The next morning 10 the workmen were surprised at missing the stones, which were found in our wharf. Inquiry was made; we were discovered and complained of; several of us were corrected by our fathers; and, though I pleaded the usefulness of the work, mine convinced me that nothing was 15 useful that was not honest. II [Benjamin was apprenticed to his brother James to learn the printer's trade, but the two not agreeing very well, Benjamin ran away from home, and after a long journey, reached Philadelphia.] I shall tell in detail of my first entrance into that city, that you may in your mind mind compare such unlikely beginnings with the figure I have since made there. I was in my working dress, my best clothes being to come round 20 by sea. I was dirty from my journey; my pockets were stuffed out with shirts and stockings, and I knew no soul nor where to look for lodging. I was fatigued with trav eling, rowing, and want of rest. I was very hungry; and my whole stock of cash consisted of a Dutch dollar, and about a shilling in copper. The latter I gave the people 5 of the boat for my passage, who at first refused it, on account of my rowing; but I insisted on their taking it. A man is sometimes more generous when he has but a little money than when he has plenty, perhaps through fear of being thought to have but little. 10 Then I walked up the street, gazing about till near the market house I met a boy with bread. I had made many a meal on bread, and, inquiring where he got it, I went immediately to the baker's he directed me to, in Second Street, and asked for biscuit, intending such as we had in 15 Boston; but they, it seems, were not made in Philadelphia. Then I asked for a threepenny loaf, and was told that they had none such. So not considering or knowing the difference of money, and the greater cheapness nor the names of his bread, I bade him give me threepenny worth 20 of any sort. He gave me, accordingly, three great puffy rolls. I was surprised at the quantity, but took it, and, having no room in my pockets, walked off with a roll under each arm, and eating the other. Thus I went up Market Street as far as Fourth 25 Street, passing by the door of Mr. Read, my future wife's father. She, standing at the door, saw me, and thought I made, as I certainly did, a most awkward, ridiculous appear ance. Then I turned and went down Chestnut Street and part of Walnut Street, eating my roll all the way, and coming round, found myself again at Market Street wharf, near the boat I came in, to which I went for a draught of the river water; and being filled with one of 5 my rolls, gave the other two to a woman and her child that came down the river in the boat with us, and were waiting to go farther. Thus refreshed, I walked again up the street, which by this time had many clean-dressed people in it, who 10 were all walking the same way. I joined them, and thereby was led into the great meetinghouse of the Quakers near the market. I sat down among them, and, after looking round awhile and hearing nothing said, being very drowsy through labor and want of rest the preceding 15 night, I fell fast asleep, and continued so till the meeting broke up, when one was kind enough to rouse me. This, was, therefore, the first house I was in, or slept in, in Philadelphia. III A word to the wise is enough. God helps them that help themselves. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears; while the used key is always bright. Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. The sleeping fox catches no poultry. 20 25 him. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy. Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, 5 wealthy, and wise. Now that I have a sheep and a cow, everybody bids me good morrow. Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee. If you would have your business done, go; if not, 10 send. He that by the plow would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive. A little neglect may breed great mischief; for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was 15 lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy; all for want of a little care about a horseshoe nail. Many a little makes a mickle. A small leak will sink a great ship. 20 If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some: for he that goes a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing. 25 It is easier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel. Rather go to bed supperless than to rise in debt. no other. |