17. This prevented him from giving any further attention to poetry, and led him to devote more time and care to prose compositions. He was at this time intimately acquainted with another lad very fond of books, named John Collins. They sometimes discussed different questions together, and had become very apt to indulge in arguments and disputes. 18. A question was once started between them, on the propriety of educating the female sex in learned studies, and their abilities for these studies. As they parted without settling the point, and were not to see one another again for a long time, Franklin sat down to put his arguments in writing. He then made a fair copy of them, and sent it to Collins. 19. Three or four letters passed between them on the subject, when the father of Franklin happened to find the papers, and read them. Without entering into the subject in dispute, he took occasion to talk to him about his manner of writing. He marked the defects in his expressions, and in the arrangement of his sentences, but gave him the credit of spelling and pointing with great correctness. This he had learned in the printing office, but he had never before been taught any thing about manner and style. 20. About this time, he met with an odd volume of the Spectator, a very famous work, published by several English wits in the year 1711. He bought it, read it over and over, and was much delighted with it. This book was now his continual study, and he himself tried to write as much as possible in its very pleasant and popular style. The improvement which he made was encouraging, and led him to hope he might some day become a good English writer; a distinction of which he was very ambitious. * * * * * 1. Where was Franklin born? When? 2. For what profession did his parents intend to educate him? 3. What induced his father to change his intention? 4. To what trade was Benjamin put, and when? 6. Relate the anecdote about Franklin and his companions. 7. What maxim did his father teach him in consequence of this adventure? 8. What were his father's fears in relation to his new occupation? 9. On what trade did his father finally determine? 10. Describe his early fondness for reading, and the books of which he was most fond. 11. What books did he first buy? 12. What induced his father to bring up Benjamin as a printer? To whom was he bound apprentice? 13. How did he succeed in his new trade? 14. What advantages did it afford him for pursuing his studies? 15. Relate the account of his first attempts in poetry. 16. How did his ballads succeed? 17. How did his father discourage his new taste? 18. What was the subject of his discussion with his friend Collins? 19. What praise and advice did his father give him on this occasion? 20. With what book was Franklin at this time so much pleased? Did he attempt to imitate it? CHAPTER II.