47 
Have alwayes lying by you, a List of the Poor in your Neighbour- 
hood (page 75). 
You must not think of making the Good you do, a pouring of 
Water into a Pump, to draw out something for your selves (page 78). 
Do Good unto those Neighbours, who will Sfeak // of you, after 
you have done it (page 80). 
Often mention the Condition of the Poor, in your Conversation 
with the “ch (page 100). 
The Wind teeds no body, yet it may turn the A4/2, which will 
grind the Corn, that may Feed the Poor (page ror). 
To Bear Evil is to Do Good (page 103). 
One Small Man, thus Wicking the Time for it, may do wonders 
(page 179)! 
At a very early period in his life Franklin had acquired a great 
mastery of language, and an excellent style in writing. It was clear 
and terse, and left no doubt as to the meaning he intended to con- 
vey. This high art is rare, and more easily recognized than de- 
scribed. In many ways it is the man himself, and shows him off 
from every point of view. It is never learned by rote, but comes 
largely by practice, and also by familiarity with the works of good 
writers. Franklin was a close reader, and in his boyhood devoured 
everything in the shape of a book within the reach of his limited 
means. He studied Locke’s Zssay on the Human Understanding,— 
a work to which many a man has acknowledged a debt of gratitude 
for its help in mental training. He had also read Bunyan’s P2/- 
grim’s Progress, and a stray volume of Zhe Spectator, both excellent 
models for a young man to copy. In one of his Almanacks, 
Franklin says that Addison’s ‘‘ writings have contributed more to 
the improvement of the minds of the #rztish nation, and polishing 
their manners, than those of any other Azg/sh pen whatever.’’ 
While yet a printer’s apprentice he wrote articles for his brother’s 
newspaper, the authorship of which was at first unknown to the 
editor ; and he also wrote doggerel rhymes, in those days often 
called ‘‘ varses,’’ which he hawked about the streets of Boston and 
sold for a trifle. In this modest way he earned a few extra shillings 
and laid the foundation of a brilliant career. Who can say now 
that his success in after-life was not in some manner connected with 
the narrow circumstances of the young ballad-maker ? 
As at that time the drama was not regarded with favor by the 
good people of Boston, I have often wondered if Franklin in his 
