INHERITANCE AND TRAINING 23 



He was the fifth in a family of eleven children, 

 so that he had no lack of companionship from both 

 older and younger sisters. The older sisters had 

 contributed much to his preparation for college. 

 They were a never-failing source of inspiration. 

 At fourteen he read in a masterly way "Locke on 

 the Human Understanding." It took a powerful 

 hold on his mind and greatly affected his life In 

 a letter to his father he asked a special favor that 

 he might have a copy of " The Art of Thinking, ' 

 not because it was necessary to his college work, 

 but because he thought it would be profitable. 



While still in his teens he wrote a series of 

 "Resolutions," the like of which it would be difii- 

 cult to duplicate in the case of any other youth. 

 These things are dwelt upon as indicating the way 

 in which every fibre of his being was prepared for 

 the great moral and intellectual legacy he left his 

 childi-en and his children's children. Here are ten 

 of his seventy resolutions: 



Mesolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, 

 and most for the good and advantage of mankind 

 in general. 



Mesolved, so to do, whatever difficulties I meet 

 with, how many soever, and how great soever. 



Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find 

 out some new contrivance and invention to pro- 

 mote the forementioned things. 



Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, but 

 to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly 



