The habit of punctuality which Franklin formed in his youth, distinguished him in his manhood as much as the same habit did Washington. There is no doubt that it exerted a large influence in placing him next to Washington among the founders of our republic. One of the maxims that he wrote in mature life was: "He that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night." IX. TABLE-TALK EDUCATION. We delay the narrative, at this point, to introduce a subject that Franklin often referred to as influencing his early life. In his "Autobiography," he said: "At his table he [his father] 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 that other thing of the kind; so that I was brought up in such a perfect inattention to those matters, as to be quite indifferent what kind of food was set before me. Indeed, I am so unobservant of it, that to this day I can scarce tell, a few hours after dinner, of what dishes it consisted. This has been a great 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." This was different from much of the table-talk that is heard in many families now. "I do not want any of that, I do not love it," exclaims one child. "I should think you might have a better dinner than this." "What would you have if you could get it; roast chicken and plum pudding?" his mother replies, in a facetious way, instead of reproving him. "I would have something I could eat. You know I do not love that, and never did." "Well, it does boys good, sometimes, to eat what they do not love, especially such particular ones as you are," adds his father. "I sha'n't eat what I do not like, anyhow; I shall go hungry first." "There, now, let me hear no more complaint about your food," adds his father, more sharply. "You are scarcely ever suited with your victuals." "May I have some?" calling for something that is not on the table. "If you will hold your tongue, and get it yourself, you can have it." "And let me have some, too," shouts another child. "I do not love this, neither. May I have some, pa?" "And I, too," exclaims still another. "I must have some if Henry and James do."