How contemptible does such a character appear in contrast with Franklin! It is not strange that the public withhold their confidence from the fop, and bestow it upon the industrious. Judge Marshall was a great man, and great men never get above their business. Franklin became a great man, and one reason of it was, that he never became too proud to wait upon himself. After he married Miss Read, and commenced housekeeping, he still adhered to the same principle of economy. Instead of doing as many young men do at this era of life, living beyond their income, he continued frugal. He said of himself and wife, "We kept no idle servants, our table was plain and simple, our furniture of the cheapest. For instance, my breakfast was for a long time bread and milk (no tea), and I ate it out of a twopenny earthen porringer, with a pewter spoon." Thus he reduced to practice the couplet which he wrote:-- "Vessels large may venture more, But little boats should keep near shore." And qualified himself to pen such maxims as the following:-- "It is easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow it." "It is as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as for the frog to swell in order to equal the ox." "Pride breakfasts with plenty, dines with poverty, and sups with infamy." His integrity in transacting business was no less marked. Strict honesty characterized all his dealings with men. An exalted idea of justice pervaded his soul. His word of honour was as good as his note of hand. Even his disposition to castigate and censure in his writings, so manifest in Boston at seventeen years of age, and which his father rebuked, was overcome. After he set up a paper in Philadelphia, a gentleman handed him an article for its columns. "I am very busy now," said Franklin, "and you will confer a favour by leaving it for my perusal at my leisure." "That I will do," replied the writer "and call again to-morrow." The next day the author called. "What is your opinion of my article?" he asked. "Why, sir, I am sorry to say that I cannot publish it," answered Franklin. "Why not? What is the matter with it?" "It is highly scurrilous and defamatory," replied Franklin. "But being at a loss on account of my poverty, whether to reject it or not, I thought I would put it to this issue. At night, when my work was done, I bought a twopenny loaf, on which I supped heartily, and then, wrapping myself in my great coat, slept very soundly on the floor until morning, when another loaf and mug of water afforded a pleasant breakfast. Now, sir, since I can live very comfortably in this manner, why should I prostitute my press to personal hatred or party passion for a more luxurious living?"