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buried together at Boston； where I some years since placed a marble over
their grave； with this inscription：
JOSIAH FRANKLIN； and ABIAH his Wife； lie here interred。 They
lived lovingly together in wedlock fifty…five years。 Without an estate； or
any gainful employment； By constant labor and industry； with God's
blessing； They maintained a large family comfortably； and brought up
thirteen children and seven grandchildren reputably。 From this instance；
reader； Be encouraged to diligence in thy calling； And distrust not
Providence。 He was a pious and prudent man； She； a discreet and virtuous
woman。 Their youngest son； In filial regard to their memory； Places this
stone。 J。F。 born 1655； died 1744； AEtat 89。 A。F。 born 1667； died 1752； …
95。
By my rambling digressions I perceive myself to be grown old。 I us'd
to write more methodically。 But one does not dress for private company as
for a publick ball。 'Tis perhaps only negligence。
To return： I continued thus employed in my father's business for two
years； that is； till I was twelve years old； and my brother John； who was
bred to that business； having left my father； married； and set up for himself
at Rhode Island； there was all appearance that I was destined to supply his
place； and become a tallow…chandler。 But my dislike to the trade
continuing； my father was under apprehensions that if he did not find one
for me more agreeable； I should break away and get to sea； as his son
Josiah had done； to his great vexation。 He therefore sometimes took me to
walk with him； and see joiners； bricklayers； turners； braziers； etc。； at their
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
work； that he might observe my inclination； and endeavor to fix it on some
trade or other on land。 It has ever since been a pleasure to me to see good
workmen handle their tools； and it has been useful to me； having learnt so
much by it as to be able to do little jobs myself in my house when a
workman could not readily be got； and to construct little machines for my
experiments； while the intention of making the experiment was fresh and
warm in my mind。 My father at last fixed upon the cutler's trade； and my
uncle Benjamin's son Samuel； who was bred to that business in London；
being about that time established in Boston； I was sent to be with him
some time on liking。 But his expectations of a fee with me displeasing my
father； I was taken home again。
From a child I was fond of reading； and all the little money that came
into my hands was ever laid out in books。 Pleased with the Pilgrim's
Progress； my first collection was of John Bunyan's works in separate little
volumes。 I afterward sold them to enable me to buy R。 Burton's Historical
Collections； they were small chapmen's books； and cheap； 40 or 50 in all。
My father's little library consisted chiefly of books in polemic divinity；
most of which I read； and have since often regretted that； at a time when I
had such a thirst for knowledge； more proper books had not fallen in my
way since it was now resolved I should not be a clergyman。 Plutarch's
Lives there was in which I read abundantly； and I still think that time spent
to great advantage。 There was also a book of De Foe's； called an Essay on
Projects； and another of Dr。 Mather's； called Essays to do Good； which
perhaps gave me a turn of thinking that had an influence on some of the
principal future events of my life。
This bookish inclination at length determined my father to make me a
printer； though he had already one son （James） of that profession。 In 1717
my brother James returned from England with a press and letters to set up
his business in Boston。 I liked it much better than that of my father； but
still had a hankering for the sea。 To prevent the apprehended effect of such
an inclination； my father was impatient to have me bound to my brother。 I
stood out some time； but at last was persuaded； and signed the indentures
when I was yet but twelve years old。 I was to serve as an apprentice till I
was twenty…one years of age； only I was to be allowed journeyman's
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THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
wages during the last year。 In a little time I made great proficiency in the
business； and became a useful hand to my brother。 I now had access to
better books。 An acquaintance with the apprentices of booksellers enabled
me sometimes to borrow a small one； which I was careful to return soon
and clean。 Often I sat up in my room reading the greatest part of the night；
when the book was borrowed in the evening and to be returned early in the
morning； lest it should be missed or wanted。
And after some time an ingenious tradesman； Mr。 Matthew Adams；
who had a pretty collection of books； and who frequented our printing…
house； took notice of me； invited me to his library； and very kindly lent me
such books as I chose to read。 I now took a fancy to poetry； and made
some little pieces； my brother； thinking it might turn to account；
encouraged me； and put me on composing occasional ballads。 One was
called The Lighthouse Tragedy； and contained an account of the drowning
of Captain Worthilake； with his two daughters： the other was a sailor's
song； on the taking of Teach （or Blackbeard） the pirate。 They were
wretched stuff； in the Grub…street…ballad style； and when they were printed
he sent me about the town to sell them。 The first sold wonderfully； the
event being recent； having made a great noise。 This flattered my vanity；
but my father discouraged me by ridiculing my performances； and telling
me verse…makers were generally beggars。 So I escaped being a poet； most
probably a very bad one； but as prose writing bad been of great use to me
in the course of my life； and was a principal means of my advancement； I
shall tell you how； in such a situation； I acquired what little ability I have
in that way。
There was another bookish lad in the town； John Collins by name；
with whom I was intimately acquainted。 We sometimes disputed； and very
fond we were of argument； and very desirous of confuting one another；
which disputatious turn； by the way； is apt to become a very bad habit；
making people often extremely disagreeable in company by the
contradiction that is necessary to bring it into practice； and thence； besides
souring and spoiling the conversation； is productive of disgusts and；
perhaps enmities where you may have occasion for friendship。 I had
caught it by reading my father's books of dispute about religion。 Persons
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of good sense； I have since observed； seldom fall into it； except lawyers；
university men； and men of all sorts that have been bred at Edinborough。
A question was once； somehow or other； started between Collins and
me； of the propriety of educating the female sex in learning； and their
abilities for study。 He was of opinion that it was improper； and that they
were naturally unequal to it。 I took the contrary side； perhaps a little for
dispute's sake。 He was naturally more eloquent； had a ready plenty of
words； and sometimes； as I thought； bore me down more by his fluency
than by the strength of his reasons。 As we parted without settling the point；
and were not to see one another again for some time； I sat down to put my
arguments in writing； which I copied fair and sent to him。 He answered；
and I replied。 Three or four letters of a side had passed； when my father
happened to find my papers and read them。 Without entering into the
discussion； he took occasion to talk to me about the manner of my writing；
observed that； though I had the advantage of my antagonist in correct
spelling and pointing （which I ow'd to the printing…house）； I fell far short
in elegance of expression； in method and in perspicuity； of which he
convinced