in my declining years, as I feel that the battle has been
fought and, I hope, the victory won, it is an unspeakable comfort for
me to reflect, that, in all these fifty-four volumes, there is not one
line which, "dying, I could wish to blot."

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

_Parentage and Early Life._

PAGE

The parentage of Franklin--His parents emigrate to America--Character
of his father--Abiah Folger, his mother--Birth and baptism--Influence
of his Uncle Strong--Of the Whistle--Childish exploits--Uncongenial
employment--Skill in swimming--Early reading--Boston at that time--An
indentured apprentice--Form of Indenture--Enters a printing
office--Fondness for reading--Anecdotes--Habits of study--Fondness for
argument--Adopts a vegetable diet--The two creeds. 11

CHAPTER II.

_Developments of Character._

Views of the Sabbath--Writings of Collins and Shaftsbury--The creed
of Collins--Franklin at sixteen--The Courant--Denunciations of the
paper--Franklin's mode of acquiring the art of composition--His
success as a writer--The Editor prosecuted--Benjamin becomes Editor
and Publisher--Jealousy of his brother--The runaway apprentice--The
voyage to New York--Great disappointment--Eventful Journey to
Philadelphia--Gloomy prospects--The dawn of brighter days. 31

CHAPTER III.

_Excursion to England._

Attention to dress--Receives a visit from Gov. Keith--His visit to
Boston--Collins returns to Philadelphia with him--Sir William Keith's
aid--Excursions on the Sabbath--Difficulty with Collins--Spending Mr.
Vernon's money--His three friends--Engagement with Deborah
Read--Voyage to England--Keith's deceit--Ralph--Franklin enters a
printing house in London. 52

CHAPTER IV.

_Mental and Moral Conflicts._

Faithfulness to work--Neglect of Deborah Read--Treatise on Liberty
and Necessity--Skill in swimming--Return to America--Marriage of Miss
Read--Severe sickness--Death of Mr. Denham--Returns to Keimer's
employ--The Junto--His Epitaph--Reformation of his treatise on
Liberty and Necessity--Franklin's creed. 75

CHAPTER V.

_The Dawn of Prosperity._

Franklin takes a house--His first job--His industry--Plans a
Newspaper--Enters the list as a writer--Advocates a Paper
currency--Purchases Keimer's paper--Character of