My Mother had likewise an excellent Constitution. She suckled all her 10 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 Stone 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 labour 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--Ætat 89. A. F. born 1667--Died 1752----85. 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 continu'd thus employ'd in my Father's Business for two Years, that is till I was 12 Years old; and my Brother John, who was bred to that Business having left my Father, married and set up for himself at Rhodeisland, there was all Appearance that I was destin'd to supply his Place and be 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 agreable, 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 Work, that he might observe my Inclination, and endeavour 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 fix'd upon the Cutler's Trade, and my Uncle Benjamin's Son Samuel who was bred to that Business in London[,] being about that time establish'd 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.--