this world who invents the most useful things
for others," continued Uncle Benjamin. "The thoughts of Copernicus,
Galileo, and Newton changed the world. Those men can never die."

Little Ben swung the stove in his hand.

Suddenly he looked up, and we fancy him to have said:

"Uncle Benjamin, have _I_ a chance?"

Jamie the Scotchman came into the house, jingling the door bell as he
shut the door.

"Philosophizing?" said he.

"Little Ben here is inquiring in regard to his chance of doing something
in the world--of living so as to leave his thoughts in creative forms
behind. What do you think about it, Jamie?"

"Well, I don't know; it is a pretty hard case. Drumsticks will make a
noise, so any man may make himself heard if he will. Certain it is Ben
has no gifts; at least, I have never discerned any. There are no Attic
bees buzzing around him, none that I have seen, unless there be such
things up in the attic, which would not be likely in a new house like
this."

Uncle Ben pitied the little boy, whose feelings he saw were hurt.

"Jamie, I have read much, and have made some observation, and life tells
me that character, industry, and a determined purpose will do much for a
man that has no special gifts. The Scriptures do not say that a man of
gifts shall stand before kings, but that the man 'diligent in his
business' shall do so. Ben here can rise with the best of the world, and
if he has thoughts, he can project them. It is thinking that makes men
work. He thinks.--Ben, you can do anything that any one else of your
opportunities has ever done. There--I hate to see the boy discouraged."

"The fifteenth child among seventeen children would not seem likely to
have a very broad outlook," said Jamie, "but it is good to encourage
him; it is good to encourage anybody. He is one of the human family,
like all the rest of us.--Are you going to the lecture? I will go along
with you."

Josiah Franklin was now ready to go, and the party started. Josiah
carried a lantern, and little Benjamin the foot stove with the coals.
As they walked along they met other people with lanterns and foot
stoves.

Uncle Benjamin felt hurt at what Jamie had said, so he proceeded to
encourage the boy as they went along.

"If you could invent a stove that would warm the whole church, you would
have a _projected_ life, for example," said he.

"Have I a chance?" asked again the future inventor of the Franklin
stove.

"Or if you could print