the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第3章
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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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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 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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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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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
