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child but two； and was born in Boston； New England。 My mother； the
second wife； was Abiah Folger； daughter of Peter Folger； one of the first
settlers of New England； of whom honorable mention is made by Cotton
Mather in his church history of that country； entitled Magnalia Christi
Americana； as 'a godly； learned Englishman；〃 if I remember the words
rightly。 I have heard that he wrote sundry small occasional pieces； but only
one of them was printed； which I saw now many years since。 It was
written in 1675； in the home…spun verse of that time and people； and
addressed to those then concerned in the government there。 It was in favor
of liberty of conscience； and in behalf of the Baptists； Quakers； and other
sectaries that had been under persecution； ascribing the Indian wars； and
other distresses that had befallen the country； to that persecution； as so
many judgments of God to punish so heinous an offense； and exhorting a
repeal of those uncharitable laws。 The whole appeared to me as written
with a good deal of decent plainness and manly freedom。 The six
concluding lines I remember； though I have forgotten the two first of the
stanza； but the purport of them was； that his censures proceeded from
good…will； and； therefore； he would be known to be the author。
〃Because to be a libeller （says he） I hate it with my heart； From
Sherburne town； where now I dwell My name I do put here； Without
offense your real friend； It is Peter Folgier。〃
My elder brothers were all put apprentices to different trades。 I was put
to the grammar…school at eight years of age； my father intending to devote
me； as the tithe of his sons； to the service of the Church。 My early
readiness in learning to read （which must have been very early； as I do not
remember when I could not read）； and the opinion of all his friends； that I
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should certainly make a good scholar； encouraged him in this purpose of
his。 My uncle Benjamin； too； approved of it； and proposed to give me all
his short…hand volumes of sermons； I suppose as a stock to set up with； if I
would learn his character。 I continued； however； at the grammar…school not
quite one 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 farther 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； in the meantime； from a view of the expense of a
college education； which having so large a family he could not well afford；
and the mean living many so educated were afterwards able to obtain
reasons that be gave to his friends in my hearingaltered his first intention；
took me from the grammar…school； and sent me to a school for writing and
arithmetic； kept by a then famous man； Mr。 George Brownell； 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。 At ten years old I was taken home
to assist my father in his business； which was that of a tallow…chandler and
sope…boiler； a business he was not bred to； but had assumed on his arrival
in New England； and on finding his dying trade would not maintain his
family； being in little request。 Accordingly； I was employed in cutting wick
for the candles； filling the dipping mold and the molds for cast candles；
attending the shop； going of errands； etc。
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； learnt 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； and upon other occasions I was
generally a leader among the boys； and sometimes led them into scrapes；
of which I will mention one instance； as it shows an early projecting
public spirit； tho' not then justly conducted。
There was a salt…marsh that bounded part of the mill…pond； on the edge
of which； at high water； we used to stand to fish for minnows。 By much
trampling； we had made it a mere quagmire。 My proposal was to build a
wharff there fit for us to stand upon； and I showed my comrades a large
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
heap of stones； which were intended for a new house near the marsh； and
which would very well suit our purpose。 Accordingly； in the evening；
when the workmen were gone； I assembled a number of my play…fellows；
and working with them diligently like so many emmets； sometimes two or
three to a stone； we brought them all away and built our little wharff。 The
next morning the workmen were surprised at missing the stones； which
were found in our wharff。 Inquiry was made after the removers； 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 useful which was not honest。
I think you may like to know something of his person and character。
He had an excellent constitution of body； was of middle stature； but well
set； and very strong； he was ingenious； could draw prettily； was skilled a
little in music； and had a clear pleasing voice； so that when he played
psalm tunes on his violin and sung withal； as he sometimesdid in an
evening after the business of the day was over； it was extremely agreeable
to hear。 He had a mechanical genius too； and； on occasion； was very handy
in the use of other tradesmen's tools； but his great excellence lay in a
sound understanding and solid judgment in prudential matters； both in
private and publick affairs。 In the latter； indeed； he was never employed；
the numerous family he had to educate and the straitness of his
circumstances keeping him close to his trade； but I remember well his
being frequently visited by leading people； who consulted him for his
opinion in affairs of the town or of the church he belonged to； and showed
a good deal of respect for his judgment and advice： he was also much
consulted by private persons about their affairs when any difficulty
occurred； and frequently chosen an arbitrator between contending parties。
At his table he liked to have； as often as he could； some sensible friend
or neighbor to converse with； and always took care to start some ingenious
or useful topic for discourse； which might tend to improve the minds of his
children。 By this means he turned our attention to what was good； just； and
prudent in the conduct of life； and little or no notice was ever taken of
what related to the victuals on the table； whether it was well or ill dressed；
in or out of season； of good or bad flavor； preferable or inferior to this or
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that other thing of the kind； so that I was bro't up in such a perfect
inattention to those matters as to be quite indifferent what kind of food
was set before me； and so unobservant of it； that to this day if I am asked I
can scarce tell a few hours after dinner what I dined upon。 This has been a
convenience to me in travelling； where my companions have been
sometimes very unhappy for want of a suitable gratification of their more
delicate； because better instructed； tastes and appetites。
My mother had likewise an excellent constitution： she suckled all her
ten children。 I never knew either my father or mother to have any sickness
but that of which they dy'd； he at 89； and she at 85 years of age。 They lie
buried together at Boston； where I some years since placed a marble over
their grave； with this inscription：
JOSIAH FRANKLIN； and ABIAH his W