early attracted our attention to what was just, prudent, and beneficial in the conduct of life. He never talked of the meats which appeared upon the table, never discussed whether they were well or ill dressed, of good or bad flavour, high seasoned or otherwise, preferable or inferi or to this or that dish of similar kind. Thus accustomed, from my infancy to the utmost inattention to these objects, I have always been perfectly regardless of what kind of food was before me; and I pay so little attention to it, even now, that it would be a hard matter for me to recollect, a few hours after I had dined, of what my dinner had consisted. When travelling, I have particularly experienced the advantage of this habit; for it has often happened to me to be in company with persons, who, having a more delicate, because a more exercised taste, have suffered in many cases considerable inconvenience; while as to myself, I have had nothing to desire.

My mother was likewise possessed of an excellent constitution. She suckled all her ten children, and I never heard either her or my father complain of any other disorder than that of which they died;-my father at the age of eighty-seven, and my mother at eighty-five.They are buried together at Boston, where a few years ago I placed a marble over their grave with this inscription:

"Here lie JOSIAH FRANKLIN and ABIAH his wife. They lived together with reciprocal affection for fifty-nine years; and without private fortune, without lucrative employment, by assiduous labour and honest industry, decently supported a numerous family, and educated with

success, thirteen children, and seven grand-children. Let this example, reader, encourage thee diligently to discharge the duties of thy calling, and to rely on the support of Divine Providence. He was pious and prudent-she discreet and virtuous.

"Their youngest son, from a sentiment of filial duty consecrates this stone to their memory."

I perceive by my rambling digression, that I am growing old. But we do not dress for a private company as for a formal ball. This deserves, perhaps, the name of negligence.

To return. I thus continued employed in my father's trade for the space of two years; that is to say, till I arrived at twelve years of age.About this time, my brother John, who had served his apprenticeship in London, having quitted his father, and being married and settled in business, on his own account, at Rhode-Island, I was destined to all appearance, to supply his place and be a candle-maker all my life; but my dislike of this occupation continuing, my father was apprehensive, that, if a more agreeable one were not offered me, I might play the truant, and escape to sea; as, to his extreme mortification, my brother Josias had done. He, therefore, took me sometimes to see masons, coopers, glaziers, joiners, and other mechanics, employed at their work, in order to discover the bent of my inclination and fix it, if he could, upon some occupation that might retain me on shore. I have since, in consequence of these visits, derived no small pleasure in seeing skillful workmen handle their tools; and it has proved of considerable benefit, to have acquired thereby suf

ficient knowledge to be able to make little things for myself, when I have had no mechanic at hand, and to construct small machines for my experiments, while the idea I have conceived has been fresh and strongly impressed on my imagination.

My father at length decided that I should be a cutler, and I was placed for some days upon trial with my cousin Samuel, son of my uncle Benjamin, who had learned his trade in London, and had established himself at Boston. But the premium he required for my apprenticeship displeasing my father, I was recalled home.

From my earliest years I had been passionately fond of reading, and I laid out in books all the little money I could procure. I was particularly pleased with accounts of voyages. My frst acquisition was Bunyan's collection in small reperate volumes. These I afterwards sold in order to buy an historical collection by R. Buron, which consisted of small cheap volumes, amounting in all to about forty or fifty. My father's little library was principally made up of books practical and polemical theology. I read the greatest part of them. I have since often regretted, that at a time when I had so great a thirst for knowledge, more eligible books had not fallen into my hands, as it was then a point decided, that I should not be educated for the church. There was also among my father's books, Plutarch's Lives, in which I read continually, and I still regard as advantageously employed the time I devoted to them. I found besides a work of de Foe's entitled, An Essay on Projects, from which, perhaps, I derived impres

success, thirteen children, and seven grand-children. Let this example, reader, encourage thee diligently to discharge the duties of thy calling, and to rely on the support of Divine Providence. He was pious and prudent—she discreet and virtuous.

"Their youngest son, from a sentiment of filial duty consecrates this stone to their memory."

I perceive by my rambling digression, that I am growing old. But we do not dress for a private company as for a formal ball. This deserves, perhaps, the name of negligence.

To return. I thus continued employed in my father's trade for the space of two years; that is to say, till I arrived at twelve years of age.About this time, my brother John, who had served his apprenticeship in London, having quitted his father, and being married and settled in bu siness, on his own account, at Rhode-Island, I was destined to all appearance, to supply his place and be a candle-maker all my life; but my dislike of this occupation continuing, my father was apprehensive, that, if a more agreeable one were not offered me, I might play the truant, and escape to sea; as, to his extreme mortification, my brother Josias had done. He, therefore, took me sometimes to see masons, coopers, glaziers, joiners, and other mechanics, employed at their work, in order to discover the bent of my inclination and fix it, if he could, upon some occupation that might retain me on shore. I have since, in consequence of these visits, derived no small pleasure in seeing skillful workmen handle their tools; and it has proved of considerable benefit, to have acquired thereby suf

ficient knowledge to be able to make little things for myself, when I have had no mechanic at hand, and to construct small machines for my experiments, while the idea I have conceived has been fresh and strongly impressed on my imagination.

My father at length decided that I should be a cutler, and I was placed for some days upon trial with my cousin Samuel, son of my uncle Benjamin, who had learned his trade in London, and had established himself at Boston. But the premium he required for my apprenticeship displeasing my father, I was recalled home.

From my earliest years I had been passionately fond of reading, and I laid out in books all the little money I could procure. I was particularly pleased with accounts of voyages. My frst acquisition was Bunyan's collection in small reperate volumes. These I afterwards sold in order to buy an historical collection by R. Buron, which consisted of small cheap volumes, amounting in all to about forty or fifty. My father's little library was principally made up of books practical and polemical theology. I read the greatest part of them. I have since often regretted, that at a time when I had so great a thirst for knowledge, more eligible books had not fallen into my hands, as it was then a point decided, that I should not be educated for the church. There was also among my father's books, Plutarch's Lives, in which I read continually, and I still regard as advantageously employed the time I devoted to them. I found besides a work of de Foe's entitled, An Essay on Projects, from which, perhaps, I derived impres