hors began their
literary life in a like manner, by tucking their manuscripts under the
editor's door at night and running away. They both came to wonder at
themselves at finding themselves suddenly people of interest. Still, we
could hardly say to the literary candidate, "Fling your article into the
editor's room at night and run," though modesty, silence, and prudence
are commendable in a beginner, and qualities that win.

What pen name did Ben Franklin sign to this interesting article? It was
one that implies his purpose in life; you may read his biography in
it--SILENCE DOGOOD.

The day after the name of Silence Dogood had attracted the attention of
Boston town, Benjamin said to Jane, his sympathetic little sister:

"Jenny, let's go to walk this evening upon Beacon Hill. I have something
to tell you."

They went out in the early twilight together, up the brow of the hill
which the early settlers seem to have found a blackberry pasture, to the
tree where they had gone with Uncle Benjamin on the showery, shining
midsummer Sunday.

"Can you repeat what Uncle Benjamin said to us here, two years ago?"
asked Ben.

"No; it was too long. You repeat it to me again and I will learn it."

"He said, 'More than wealth, or fame, or anything, is the power of the
human heart, and that that power is developed in seeking the good of
others.' Jenny, what did father say when he read the piece by Silence
Dogood in the Courant?"

"He clapped his hand on his leather breeches so that they rattled; he
did, Ben, and he exclaimed, 'That is a good one!' and he read the piece
to mother, and she asked him who he supposed wrote it, and she shook her
head, and he said, 'I wish that I knew.'"

"Would you like to know who wrote it, Jenny?"

"Yes. Do you know?"

"_I_ wrote it. Jenny, you must not tell. I am writing another piece.
James does not know. I tucked the manuscript under the door. I am going
to put another one under the door at night."

"O Ben, Ben, you will be a great man yet, and I hope that I will live to
see it. But why did you take the name of _Silence Dogood_?"

"That carries out Uncle Ben's idea. It stands for seeking the good of
others quietly. That name is what I would like to be."

"It is what you will be, Ben. Uncle would say that the Franklin heart is
in that name. If you should ever become a big man, Ben, and I should
come to see you when we are old, I will say, 'Silence Dogood, more than
wealth, more than fame