s of Ecton, I found
an account of their births, marriages, and burials from the year
1555 only, there being no registers kept in that parish at any
time preceding. By that register I perceived that I was the
youngest son of the youngest son for five generations back. My
grandfather Thomas, who was born in 1598, lived at Ecton till he
grew too old to follow business longer, when he went to live
with his son John, a dyer at Banbury, in Oxfordshire, with whom
my father served an apprenticeship. There my grandfather died
and lies buried. We saw his gravestone in 1758. His eldest son
Thomas lived in the house at Ecton, and left it with the land to
his only child, a daughter. My grandfather had four sons that
grew up, viz: Thomas, John, Benjamin, and Josiah. I will give
you what account I can of them.

IV. Queries

1. Who was Benjamin Franklin? Answer in a five-minute speech.

2. What is the difference between a biography and an autobiography?

3. Locate Ecton, Northamptonshire, Banbury, and Oxfordshire.

4. Point out all of the adjective phrases.

5. Does Franklin use simple, compound, or complex sentences, and in
what proportion?

6. Make a list of the topics he discusses. Can you improve his
order?

7. Are his sentences long or short?

8. Do they lack unity?

9. Can you find any metaphors or antitheses in the model?

10. Discuss the origin of the name Franklin. What is a surname?
When did the English assume surnames?

V. Composition

Write an account of your own ancestors, choosing either your father's or
your mother's family. Let the length be about the same as that of the
model. The topics discussed should include the following:

1. Origin of surname.
2. European home.
3. Occupations.
4. My grandfather.
5. His sons.

Your father, mother, uncles, aunts, grandfathers, and grandmothers will
furnish you with the material for your composition; and their aid may be
supplemented by the books of genealogy that you will find in the public
library. Remember that the items listed above were suggested to Franklin
by his material; if you have interesting facts or traditions that cannot
be included under the heads which he uses, put them in none the less.
Matter should determine form.

VI. Model II

MY UNCLES

Thomas was bred a smith under his father; but, being ingenious,
and encouraged in learnin