The Printer Boy; Or, How Benjamin Franklin Made His Mark: An Example for Youth.Thayer, William Makepeace
History
The Printer Boy; Or, How Benjamin Franklin Made His Mark: An Example for Youth.
Thayer, William Makepeace
Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790
"For all thy innumerable benefits; for life, and reason, and the
use of speech; for health, and joy, and every pleasant hour,--My
good God, I thank Thee!"
He made a little book, in which he wrote down certain virtues that he
ought to cultivate, and prepared a table for the same. The following
were the virtues:--
"1. Temperance.--Eat not to dulness; drink not to elevation.
"2. Silence.--Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself;
avoid trifling conversation.
"3. Order.--Let all your things have their places; let each part
of your business have its time.
"4. Resolution.--Resolve to perform what you ought; perform
without fail what you resolve.
"5. Frugality.--Make no expense but to do good to others or
yourself; that is, waste nothing.
"6. Industry.--Lose no time; be always employed in something
useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
"7. Sincerity.--Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and
justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
"8. Justice.--Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the
benefits that are your duty.
"9. Moderation.--Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so
much as you think they deserve.
"10. Cleanliness.--Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or
habitation.
"11. Tranquillity.--Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents,
common or unavoidable.
"12. Chastity.
"13. Humility.--Imitate Jesus Christ and Socrates."
These are very good so far as they go, and they show that he studied
to form a high character, although he had not yet attained to the
height of the true Christian.
CHAPTER XXV.
CONCLUSION.
We have followed the subject of this volume from the time he paid _too
dear for his whistle_, to the period when he was well established in
business. We have seen what his character was as a PRINTER-BOY, and
hence his promise of success. He was not perfect by any means; on the
other hand, he had marked failings. Yet, underneath the whole, we have
discovered certain qualities that are indispensable to eminence in
one's vocation. And now it remains to see, briefly, whether the
principle we advocate was true in his case, namely, "that the boy is
father of the man." To do this, we shall pass over a series of years,
and take a succinct view of his position and influence in middle and
advanced life.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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