16(5 



A SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 



Benjamin Franklin began bis career, at Boston, as tbe 

 youngest son in a family of seventeen cbildren. The day 

 of bis birtb was January 6, 1706. But, long before he 

 died, tbe Gregorian calendar came into use in tbe Englisb colo- 

 nies and cbanged tbe date of bis birtb to January 17. As tbe 

 boy grew up his parents attempted to determine bis career. 

 His mother was anxious to see bim a minister. The boy was 

 resolved to go to sea. The father tried hard to make hi ma trades- 

 man, took bim round among tbe carpenters and bricklayers, the 

 joiners and the tanners to see wbicb trade be liked tbe best 

 and ended by binding bim over to an elder brother to learn tbe 

 trade of a printer. Tbe apprenticeship did not long endure. 

 The two made up an ill- mated pair. From disagreements they 

 passed to insults. Insults led to quarrels. Quarrels to blows, 

 and witb blows they parted. The one to drag out an bumble 

 existence. The other to become tbe most illustrious American 

 of his day. 



Unable to find any work in Boston, Benjamin took packet 

 for New York. Faring no better there, be crossed tbe bay to 

 Pertb Amboy, made the journey from Amboy to Burlington 

 on foot, and, early one Sunday morning in October, 1723, 

 reacbed tbis city. Here be found work and, in time, fell in 

 witb William Keith who governed Pennsylvania for the 

 children of Penn. 



Keith sent him to Boston to urge bis father to buy bim a 

 press and some type. The father refused, and Keith sent him 

 on a yet more foolish errand to London. When he set sail he 

 believed he was to have letters of introduction and letters of 

 credit, that be was to buy types, paper and a press and come 

 back to America a master printer. When he reacbed London 

 be foun4 Keith a knave and himself a dupe. 



