sequently he was sadly disappointed when he found that the discourse embraced only the following points:-1. Keeping holy the Sabbath-day. 2. Being diligent in reading the Scriptures. 3. Attending duly public worship. 4. Partaking of the Sacrament. 5. Paying a due respect to God's ministers. Franklin thought that these subjects, though very good, did not belong to such a text, and he was so dissatisfied with the sermon, that he ceased attending.

Conscience, however, did not slumber. He saw and felt that he was wrong, and, in order to make himself better, he began to lead a selfrighteous life. He imposed religious duties upon himself. He returned to the use of a form of prayer which he prepared some time before, when his thoughts were dwelling upon religious things. In that prayer, under the head of “Thanks,” occurs the following:

"For the common benefits of air and light, for useful fire and delicious water,-Good God, I thank Thee!"

"For knowledge and literature, and every useful art; for my friends and their prosperity, and for the fewness of my enemies,-Good God, I thank Thee!"

"For all thy innumerable benefits; for life, and reason, and the use of speech; for health, and joy, and every pleasant hour,-My good God, I thank Thee!"

He made a little book, in which he wrote down certain virtues that he ought to cultivate, and prepared a table for the same. The following

were the virtues :

"1. Temperance.-Eat not to dulness; drink not to elevation.

"2. Silence.-Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

"3. Order.-Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.

"4. Resolution.-Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. 5. Frugality.-Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; that is, waste nothing.

"6. Industry.-Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary

actions.

"7. Sincerity.-Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. Justice.-Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

"9. Moderation.-Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

"10. Cleanliness.-Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.

"11. Tranquillity.-Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents, common or unavoidable.

"12. Chastity.

13. Humility.-Imitate Jesus Christ and Socrates."

These are very good so far as they go, and they show that he studied to form a high character, although he had not yet attained to the height of the true Christian.

CHAPTER XXV.

CONCLUSION.

We have followed the subject of this volume from the time he paid too dear for his whistle, to the period when he was well established in business. We have seen what his character was as a PRINTERBOY, and hence his promise of success.

He was

not perfect by any means; on the other hand, he had marked failings. Yet, underneath the whole, we have discovered certain qualities that are indispensable to eminence in one's vocation. And now it remains to see, briefly, whether the principle we advocate was true in his case, namely, "that the boy is father of the man." To do this, we shall pass over a series of years, and take a succinct view of his position and influence in middle and advanced life.

It should be recorded first, however, that the difficulty between himself and his brother James was adjusted, ten years after his first visit to Boston. James had removed and settled in Newport, where he was fast declining in health, and Benjamin went thither to see him. Their past differences were forgotten, and their inter

view was signalized by mutual forgiveness. It was then that Benjamin promised to take his brother's little son, ten years old, after the father was no more, and bring him up to the printing business. This pledge he fulfilled, doing even more for the lad than he promised, for he sent him to school two or three years before he took him into the office, and finally he established him in business. This, certainly, was a happy termination of a quarrel that was creditable to neither party. The result was decisive evidence that both parties deplored their conduct towards each other.

While he was yet a young man, he was promoted to different posts of distinction. He filled various offices in Philadelphia, and served the State of Pennsylvania in several public ways, in all of which he did himself honour. He devoted a portion of his time to philosophical studies, in which he earned a world-wide fame. His mind was ever busy in projects to benefit society, and no work was too humble for him to do for the good of others. At one time he is found inventing a stove for domestic use, called afterward the Franklin stove, with which Governor Thomas was so well pleased, that he offered him a patent for the sole vending of them for a series of years; but Franklin refused it, on the ground, " that, as we enjoy great advantages from the invention of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve