stock to set up with, if I would learn his character. I continued, however, at the grammar-school not quite one year, though in 14 that time I had risen gradually from the middle of the class of that year to be the head of it, and, farther, was removed into the next class above it, in order to go with that into the third at the end of the year. But my father, in the meantime, from a view of the expense of a college education, which, having so large a 1 family, he could not well afford, and the mean living many so educated were afterwards able to obtain — reasons that he gave to his friends in my hearing-altered his first intention, took me from the grammar-school, and sent me to a school for writing and arithmetic, kept by a then famous man, Mr. George Brownell, ∞ very successful in his profession generally, and that by mild, encouraging methods. Under him I acquired fair writing pretty soon, but I failed in the arithmetic, and made no progress in it. At ten years old I was taken home to assist my father in his business, which was that of a tallow-chandler and soap-boiler-a 25 business he was not bred to, but had assumed on his arrival in New England, and on finding his dyeing trade would not maintain his family, being in little request. Accordingly, I was employed in cutting wick for the candles, filling the dipping-mould and the moulds for cast candles, attending the shop, going of 30 errands, etc. 2. I disliked the trade, and had a strong inclination for the sea, but my father declared against it. However, living near the water, I was much in and about it, learned early to swim well, and to manage boats; and when in a boat or canoe with other 35 boys, I was commonly allowed to govern, especially in any case of difficulty. And upon other occasions I was generally a leader among the boys, and sometimes led them into scrapes, of which 9. his character: that is, his method | 26, 27. arrival in New England. Frankof short-hand. 12. farther. More correctly further. lin's father emigrated from Old to New England in 1682. LITERARY ANALYSIS.—32, 33. inclination for the sea. of speech? (See Def. 29.) What is the figure I will mention one instance, as it shows an early projecting public spirit, though not then justly conducted. 40 3. There was a salt marsh that bounded part of the mill-pond, on the edge of which, at high-water, we used to stand to fish for minnows.* By much trampling, we had made it a mere quagmire. My proposal was to build a wharf there fit for us to stand upon, and I showed my comrades a large heap of stones 45 which were intended for a new house near the marsh, and which would very well suit our purpose. Accordingly, in the evening, when the workmen were gone, I assembled a number of my playfellows, and working with them diligently like so many emmets, sometimes two or three to a stone, we brought them all away, 50 and built our little wharf. The next morning the workmen were surprised at missing the stones, which were found in our wharf. Inquiry was made after the removers; we were discovered, and complained of; several of us were corrected by our fathers; and, though I pleaded the usefulness of the work, mine convinced me 55 that nothing was useful which was not honest. 4. I think you may like to know something of his person and character. He had an excellent constitution of body, was of middle stature, but well set, and very strong. He was ingenious, could draw prettily, was skilled a little in music, and had a clear, 60 pleasing voice; so that when he played psalm tunes on his violin and sung withal, as he sometimes did in an evening after the business of the day was over, it was extremely agreeable to hear. He had a mechanical genius too, and, on occasion, was very handy in the use of other tradesmen's tools; but his great excel-65 lence lay in a sound understanding and solid judgment in prudential matters, both in private and public affairs. In the latter, 39. projecting, enterprising. 66, 67. prudential matters = matters re quiring the exercise of pru dence or foresight. conducted. Substitute synonymous LITERARY ANALYSIS. ·39, 40. it... terms for the following italicized words: "It shows an early projecting public spirit, though not then justly conducted." 41-43. There was... minnows. Analyze this sentence. 43, 44. minnows... quagmire. What is the derivation of "minnow ?" Of "quagmire ?" 49. like so many emmets. What is the figure of speech? (See Def. 19.) 62. sung. Modernize this form. indeed, he was never employed, the numerous family he had to educate and the straitness of his circumstances keeping him close to his trade; but I remember well his being frequently 70 visited by leading people, who consulted him for his opinion in affairs of the town or of the church he belonged to, and showed a good deal of respect for his judgment and advice. He was also much consulted by private persons about their affairs when any difficulty occurred, and frequently chosen an arbitrator be- 75 tween contending parties. 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 brought up in such a perfect inattention to those 85 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 suita-90 ble gratification of their more delicate, because better instructed, tastes and appetites. 5. To return: I continued thus employed in my father's business for two years, that is, till I was twelve years old; and my brother John, who was bred to that business, having left my 95 father, married, and set up for himself at Rhode Island, there was all appearance that I was destined to supply his place, and become a tallow-chandler. But my dislike to the trade continu LITERARY ANALYSIS.-72. the church he belonged to. Change this expression into the modern literary form, by supplying the relative and transposing the preposition. Would this form be any better for the purposes of simple narration? 83. it. What noun does "it" represent? Is there any grammatical error here? 85. a perfect inattention. Should we now use the article? 96, 97. there was all appearance. Substitute a synonymous expression, ing, my father was under apprehensions that if he did not find one for me more agreeable, I should break away and get to sea, 100 as his son Josiah had done, to his great vexation. He therefore sometimes took me to walk with him, and see joiners, bricklayers, turners, braziers, etc., at their work, that he might observe my inclination and endeavor to fix it on some trade or other on land. It has ever since been a pleasure to me to see good work- 105 men handle their tools; and it has been useful to me, having learned so much by it as to be able to do little jobs myself in my house when a workman could not readily be got, and to construct little machines for my experiments while the intention of making the experiment was fresh and warm in my mind. My 10 father at last fixed upon the cutler's trade, and my uncle Benjamin's son, Samuel, who was bred to that business in London, being about that time established in Boston, I was sent to be with him some time on liking. But his expectations of a fee with me displeasing my father, I was taken home again. 115 6. From a child I was fond of reading, and all the little money that came into my hands was ever laid out in books. Pleased with the Pilgrim's Progress, my first collection was of John Bunyan's works, in separate little volumes. I afterwards sold them to enable me to buy R. Burton's Historical Collections; they were 120 small chapmen's books, and cheap, forty or fifty in all. My father's little library consisted chiefly of books in polemic divinity, most of which I read, and have since often regretted that, at a time when I had such a thirst for knowledge, more proper 114. on liking: that is, on trial, at the pleasure of both parties.—a fee, 120. R. Burton's Historical Collections. which occurs in the title-page compilations, published (and of a number of very popular 121. chapmen, peddlers. LITERARY ANALYSIS.-110. fresh and warm. Are the words "fresh" and 'warm" used literally or figuratively? books had not fallen in my way, since it was now resolved I 125 should not be a clergyman. Plutarch's Lives there was, in which I read abundantly, and I still think that time spent to great advantage. There was also a book of De Foe's, called an Essay on Projects, and another of Dr. Mather's, called Essays to Do Good, which perhaps gave me a turn of thinking that had an influence on some of the principal future events of my life. 130 135 7. This bookish inclination at length determined my father to make me a printer, though he had already one son (James) of that profession. In 1717 my brother James returned from England with a press and letters, to set up his business in Boston. I liked it much better than that of my father, but still had a hankering for the sea. To prevent the apprehended effect of such an inclination, my father was impatient to have me bound to my brother. I stood out some time, but at last was persuaded, and signed the indentures when I was yet but twelve years old. was to serve as an apprentice till I was twenty-one years of age, only I was to be allowed journeyman's wages during the last year. In a little time I made great proficiency in the business, and became a useful hand to my brother. I now had access to better books. An acquaintance with the apprentices of 145 booksellers enabled me sometimes to borrow a small one, which I 140 126. Plutarch's Lives. This famous 129, 130. Essays to Do Good. This work work, styled by R. W. Emerson "the Bible of heroisms," was the production of Plutarch, a Greek biographer, who lived in the first century of the Christian He is by Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather, a learned New England divine, and a voluminous author. was born in Boston, 1663; died 1728. letters: that is, a supply of printing type. indentures, the written agreement or contract between master and apprentice. LITERARY ANALYSIS. 126. Plutarch's Lives there was. This is one of Franklin's few inversions of construction. Transpose into the direct order. 132-150. This bookish... wanted. Point out three or more colloquial words or expressions in paragraph 7. 142. only. To what conjunction is "only" here equivalent ? 144. hand. What is the figure of speech? (See Def. 28.) |