76. Benjamin Franklin's Boyhood
BY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1706)
I WAS the youngest son of my father, Josiah Franklin,
and was born in Boston, New England. My father had in all
seventeen children; of which I remember thirteen sitting at
once at his table.
I was put to the grammar school at eight years of age, my
father intending as an offering to God, to make me a
minister of the church. My readiness in learning to read
must have been very early as I do not remember when I
could not read. Later my father sent me to a school for
writing and arithmetic. I learned good writing pretty soon
but I failed in the arithmetic. At ten years of age. I was
taken home to help my father in his business.
He was a tallow-candle-maker and soap-boiler. He was not
brought up to follow this business. He had gone into it,
when he came to New England; for he found his dyeing
trade would not support his family.
So I was at work cutting wick for the candles, filling the
moulds for dipping the candles, keeping the shop, and going
on errands. I disliked the business. I had a strong desire to
go to sea; but my father declared against it.
Living near the water, I was much in and about it. I learned
early to swim well and to manage boats.
And when in a boat or canoe with other boys, I was
generally allowed to manage things, especially in any case
of danger.
Upon other occasions I was generally a leader among the boys
Sometimes I led them into scrapes. I will tell of one such time.
There was a salt marsh on one side of the mill pond. On the edge
of this, at high water, we used to stand to fish for minnows. By much
trampling we had made it a mere quagmire. My plan 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. These would
very well suit our purpose.
So, in the evening, when the workmen were gone, I gathered
together a number of my playfellows; we worked very hard, like so many
ants. Sometimes two or three of us were needed for one stone. Finally we
brought them all away and built our little wharf.
The next morning the workmen were surprised at missing the
stones, which were found in our wharf. They began to ask who moved them.
We were found out and complaint was made. Several of us were punished by
our fathers. And although I said for excuse that it was a useful kind of
work, my father convinced me that nothing was useful which was not
honest.
My father was often visited by leading people, w ho asked
his opinion in affairs of the town or of the church to which
he belonged. They showed a good deal of respect for his
judgement and advice. He liked to have some sensible friend
or neighbor to talk with him at his table. He always took
care to start some useful subject for conversation, which
might help to improve the minds of his children. By this
means he turned our attention to what was good, just, and
wise in the affairs of life.
Little or no notice was ever taken of the food on the
table. If it was well or poorly prepared, in or out of season,
of good or bad flavor, better or worse than some other thing
of the kind, we did not discuss it. I was brought up to pay so
little attention to these things, that I cared little what kind of
food was set before me. To this day, if I am asked, I can
hardly tell a few hours after dinner what I had to eat.
This has been a great convenience to me in travelling. When
my companions have been very unhappy sometimes for want
of what would suit their more delicate tastes I have been
satisfied.
I never knew my father or my mother to have any sickness
but that of which they died, he at 89 and she at 8 5 years of
age. They lie buried together at Boston, where I some years
ago placed a tombstone over their grave.
From a child I was ever fond of reading, and all the little
money that came into my hands was ever laid out in books.
My father's little library was chiefly of books on religious
discussions, most of which I read.
I have since often been sorry that, at a time when I had such
a thirst for knowledge, more proper books
had not fallen in my way, since it was later decided I should
not be a minister.
My taste for books at last caused my father to make
me a printer. I like it much better than my father's business,
but I still had a hankering for the sea. To prevent this my
father was in haste to have me bound to my brother as an
apprentice in the printing business.
I now had a chance to read better books. Knowing the
apprentices of book-sellers enabled me sometimes to borrow
a small one which I was careful to return clean. Often I sat
up in my room reading the greatest part of the night, when
the book was borrowed in the evening anti had to be returned
early in the morning.
After some time, Mr. Matthew Adams, who had a
pretty collection of books, took notice of me, invited me to
his library, and very kindly lent me such books as I chose
to read.
