Transcriber's Note
Every effort has been made to replicate this text asfaithfully as possible, including obsolete and variant spellings and otherinconsistencies. Text that has been changed to correct an obvious erroris noted at the end of this ebook.
The
PRINTER BOY.
or
how
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
MADE HIS MARK.
An Example for Youth.
BY
WILLIAM. M. THAYER
AUTHOR OF "THE BOBBIN BOY", "TALES FROM THE BIBLE", ETC.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY
JULIAN PORTCH
ENGRAVED BY
BALE & HOLMAN.
LONDON
JAMES HOGG & SONS
"How much did you give for your whistle!"—See page 4.PREFACE.
This book is designed to illustrate the familiar maxim, that "the boyis father to the man." The early life of Franklin is sketched from hischildhood to the time he was established in business, thus showingwhat he was in boyhood and youth; and the achievements of his manhoodare summed up in a closing chapter, to substantiate the truth of theabove proverb.
The author believes that the lives of distinguished men may beincorporated into a story, uniting narrative and dialogue so as to bemore attractive to the young. John Bunyan was the first to adopt thisstyle, and his inimitable Pilgrim's Progress charms the young reader,not only by its graphic imagery, but also by its alternation ofnarrative and dialogue. Since his day, others have adopted a similarstyle, particularly in works of fiction, with success. Why may nottruth appear in such a dress as successfully as fiction? Why may not[Pg iv]actual lives be presented in this manner as vividly as imaginaryones? The young mind will seize upon a truth or fact that is conveyedin a story, when it will remain wholly indifferent to it as it appearsin a simple statement. So the life of an eminent man may engage theattention of this class, if he is made to speak and act for himself,when they would not be interested in it, if it were presented to themin a plain summary of facts.
In this volume, the actual, early life of Franklin is wrought into astory. The imagination has done no more than weave the facts of hisboyhood and youth into a "tale of real life." It makes Benjamin andhis associates speak and do what biographers say they spoke and did.It simply paints the scenes and acts of which other writers havetold.
A conspicuous place is given in the work to the maxims of Franklin,for the purpose of conveying important lessons in regard to theformation of character, and thus stimulating the young in the path ofwell-doing. Whole volumes of meaning are condensed into many of hiswise and pithy sayings.
W. M. T.
CONTENTS.
...