H/SEJV B Y PERSE VERANCE. 



home. In this state of things it was finally resolved to place 

 him with his brother James, who had been bred a printer, and 

 had just returned from England and set up on his own account 

 at Boston. To him, therefore, Benjamin was bound apprentice, 

 when he was yet only in his twelfth year, on an agreement that 

 he should remain with him in that capacity till he reached the 

 age of twenty- one. 



One of the principal reasons which induced his father to 

 determine upon this profession for him was the fondness he 

 had from his infancy shown for reading. All the money he 

 could get hold of used to be eagerly laid out in the purchase 

 of books. His father's small collection consisted principally 

 of works in controversial divinity, a subject of little interest to 

 a reader of his age ; but, such as they were, he went through 

 most of them. Fortunately there was also a copy of PhttarcJCs 

 Lives, which he says he read abundantly. This, and a book 

 by Daniel Defoe, called An Essay on Frojecis, he seems to 

 think were the two works from which he derived the most 

 advantage. His new profession of a printer, by procuring him 

 the acquaintance of some booksellers' apprentices, enabled 

 him considerably to extend his acquaintance with books, by 

 frequently borrowing a volume in the evening, which he sat up 

 reading the greater part of the nighi in order that he might 

 return it in the morning, lest it should L^^ missed. But these 

 solitary studies did not prevent him froi i soon acquiring a 

 great proficiency in his business, in which he was every day 

 becoming more useful to his brother. After some time, too, 

 his access to books was greatly facilitated by the kindness of a 

 liberal-minded merchant who was in the habit of frequentin;] 

 the printing office, and, being possessed of a tolerable library, 

 invited young Franklin, whose industry and intelligence had 



