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 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.