[Ill.u.s.tration: "Sawdust Pudding"--Anecdote of Franklin"s Independence.--See page 242.]
"No," he answered, "my father has really been disappointed, and is really unable; and I am unwilling to distress him further. I see this is a business I am unfit for. I was bred a farmer; and it was folly in me to come to town, and put myself, at thirty years of age, an apprentice to learn a new trade. Many of our Welsh people (he was a Welshman) are going to settle in North Carolina, where land is cheap.
I am inclined to go with them, and follow my old employment; you may find friends to a.s.sist you. If you will take the debts of the company upon you, return to my father the hundred pounds he has advanced, pay my little personal debts, and give me thirty pounds and a new saddle, I will relinquish the partnership, and leave the whole in your hands."
Franklin accepted this proposition, and, with the aid of his two friends, was soon established in business alone. His patronage increased rapidly, and he was able to pay off his debts. In a very short time he commanded the chief printing business of the town, and Keimer sold out, and removed to Barbadoes. The _Pennsylvania Gazette_, which he commenced printing before Meredith left him, won the public favour, and became a source of profit. As an example of his resolution and firmness, and his economy and prudence, it is said that certain subscribers to his paper were incensed at an article that appeared in its columns, and they threatened to "stop their patronage;" whereupon Franklin invited them to dine with him, and, having set before them a coa.r.s.e meal mixture, from which his guests drew back, he remarked: "Gentlemen, a man who can subsist on _sawdust pudding_ need call no man _patron_."
Here, in early life, our hero laid the foundation of his fortune; and the reader need not be at a loss to discover the secret of his success. He made himself by the sterling elements of character which he cultivated.
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE JUNTO.
Soon after Franklin returned from England, he was instrumental in forming his literary a.s.sociates into a club for mutual improvement, called the "JUNTO," which met every Friday evening. This club continued nearly forty years, and Franklin said of it, "It was the best school of philosophy, morality, and politics, that then existed in the Province; for our queries, which were read the week preceding their discussion, put us upon reading with attention on the several subjects, that we might speak more to the purpose; and here, too, we acquired better habits of conversation, everything being studied in our rules which might prevent our disgusting each other."
"I have a proposition to submit," said Franklin, at one of their meetings, "and it is this. We frequently have occasion to refer to our books, in our discussions, and I propose that we bring our books together in this room, and form a library; each having the privilege of using the books of the other."
"I like the plan much," said Parsons, one of the members. "n.o.body but Franklin would have thought of it."
"I think that every member must subscribe to this measure," said Coleman. "I hope it will be done at once."
And thus it went round the room, each one expressing his approval of the plan. The consequence was, that one end of the room was filled with volumes; and the plan proved profitable to all.
At that time, books were very scarce. "There was not a good bookseller"s shop in any of the Colonies to the southward of Boston."
The readers of Pennsylvania usually sent to England for their books, which was both troublesome and expensive.
The members of the "JUNTO" derived so much benefit from the plan of bringing their books together, that Franklin conceived the idea of establishing a library, and formed his plan, which was successful. He found fifty persons in town, mostly young tradesmen, who were willing to pay down forty shillings each, and ten shillings per annum; and with these the library was commenced. This was the first library ever established in this country, and it now numbers more than sixty thousand volumes. Since that day libraries have multiplied rapidly.
The following are some of the questions for the "JUNTO," and they show that it was really a thorough and valuable organization.
"Have you met with anything, in the author you last read, remarkable, or suitable to be communicated to the Junto? particularly in history, morality, poetry, physics, travels, mechanic arts, or other parts of knowledge."
"Hath any citizen failed in business, and what have you heard of the cause?"
"Have you lately heard of any citizen"s thriving well, and by what means?"
"Do you know of a fellow-citizen who has lately done a worthy action, deserving praise and imitation; or who has lately committed an error, proper for us to be warned against and avoid?"
"What unhappy effects of intemperance have you lately observed or heard?--of imprudence?--of pa.s.sion?--or of any other vice or folly?"
"What happy effects of temperance?--of prudence?--of moderation?--or of any other virtue?"
"Do you think of anything at present in which the Junto may be serviceable to _mankind_, to their country, to their friends, or to themselves?"
"Hath any deserving stranger arrived in town since last meeting, that you have heard of?--and what have you heard or observed of his character or merits?--and whether, think you, it lies in the power of the Junto to oblige him, or encourage him as he deserves?"
"Do you know of any deserving young beginner lately set up, whom it lies in the power of the Junto any way to encourage?"
"Have you lately observed any defect in the laws of your country, of which it would be proper to move the Legislature for an amendment? or do you know of any beneficial law that is wanting?"
"Is there any man whose friendship you want, and which the Junto, or any of them, can procure for you?"
This is a sample of the questions asked at their meetings, and answered. It is not difficult to see the mind of Franklin in these inquiries, and many of them were evidently suggested by his own experience.
Some of the questions discussed by the members of the Junto were as follows:--
"Is _sound_ an ent.i.ty or body?"
"How may the phenomena of vapours be explained?"
"Can any one particular form of government suit all mankind?"
"Is the emission of paper money safe?"
"How may smoky chimneys be best cured?"
"Which is least criminal,--a _bad_ action joined with a _good_ intention, or a _good_ action with a _bad_ intention?"
There have been improvements in almost everything in modern times, but we doubt if there has been much improvement upon the "JUNTO" in literary organizations for the young. It is not surprising, that, of the original twelve members (the number was limited to twelve), two became surveyors-general; one the inventor of a quadrant; one a distinguished mechanic and influential man; and one "a merchant of great note and a provincial judge;" and all but one or two, respectable and honoured men.
At this time, Franklin had commenced the study of the languages, employing only such leisure moments as he had to master them. It was a great undertaking, but his application and perseverance were equal to the task. He began with French, and was soon able to read books in that language. Then he took Italian. A friend, who was studying it also, tempted him to play chess. He played a little, and finding that it consumed time, he refused to play any more, unless on the condition that "the victor in every game should have a right to impose a task, either of parts of the grammar to be got by heart, or in translations, which task the vanquished was to perform upon honour before the next meeting." In this way, he learned the Italian language. Subsequently he acquired sufficient knowledge of Spanish to enable him to read books in that tongue. He studied Latin a year in Boston, before he was ten years old, but since that time he had neglected it. His acquaintance now with other languages revived his taste for the Latin, however, so that he mastered that.
Surely here is literary work enough for a youth who is earning a livelihood by hard labour, having only s.n.a.t.c.hes of time to devote to reading and study. There is no work of his whole life that is more replete with interest than this; for it shows that he possessed indomitable energy and force of character, together with other valuable traits. He proved that it was possible for him to be a scholar while he was a printer.
The "Junto" appears to have been copied in England, half a century after this period. When the celebrated Canning was in his youth, being educated at Oxford, a debating society was organized, limited to the number of six, who met every Thursday evening at the rooms of the members. At each meeting, before they separated, the subject for the next meeting was voted and recorded. Here Canning and Jenkinson (who became Earl of Liverpool) made their first speeches, and here they received impulses that helped them on to fame.
Franklin began to think more of religion, and to raise some queries respecting his former doubts, soon after he came back from England.
The two young men whose religious sentiments he corrupted and unsettled turned out badly, and cheated him out of a sum of money, and this led him to inquire if it was not because they ignored religious principle. He witnessed other conduct among those who talked lightly of religion, which caused him to inquire, whether, after all, his parents were not in the right. He stayed away from meeting, and devoted the Sabbath to study, which had a very bad look. Yet, he said, "I never was without some religious principle. I never doubted the existence of a Deity; that He made the world and governed it by his providence; that the most acceptable service of G.o.d was the doing good to man; that our souls are immortal; and that all crimes will be punished, and virtue rewarded, either here or hereafter." He also subscribed something for the support of the only Presbyterian meeting in Philadelphia, and advocated the importance of sustaining public worship.
The minister called upon him, and counselled him to attend church, just when he was beginning to think better of it, and it had the effect to bring him out occasionally. Once he went five Sabbaths in succession. But the preacher was dull and uninteresting, so that Franklin was not well pleased; still he continued to attend occasionally, until, one Sabbath, the preacher took the following text: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, or of good report, if there be any virtue, or any praise, think on these things." The minister was usually doctrinal in his style of preaching, but now Franklin thought he would have something practical. Consequently he was sadly disappointed when he found that the discourse embraced only the following points:--1.
Keeping holy the Sabbath-day. 2. Being diligent in reading the Scriptures. 3. Attending duly public worship. 4. Partaking of the Sacrament. 5. Paying a due respect to G.o.d"s ministers. Franklin thought that these subjects, though very good, did not belong to such a text, and he was so dissatisfied with the sermon, that he ceased attending.
Conscience, however, did not slumber. He saw and felt that he was wrong, and, in order to make himself better, he began to lead a self-righteous life. He imposed religious duties upon himself. He returned to the use of a form of prayer which he prepared some time before, when his thoughts were dwelling upon religious things. In that prayer, under the head of "Thanks," occurs the following:--
"For the common benefits of air and light, for useful fire and delicious water,--Good G.o.d, I thank Thee!
"For knowledge and literature, and every useful art; for my friends and their prosperity, and for the fewness of my enemies,--Good G.o.d, I thank Thee!
"For all thy innumerable benefits; for life, and reason, and the use of speech; for health, and joy, and every pleasant hour,--My good G.o.d, I thank Thee!"
He made a little book, in which he wrote down certain virtues that he ought to cultivate, and prepared a table for the same. The following were the virtues:--
"1. Temperance.--Eat not to dulness; drink not to elevation.
"2. Silence.--Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.