of
testing a child's character in a novel way. A bottle, a coin, and a
Bible were laid on the floor at some distance apart to tempt the notice
of the little one when he first began to creep. It was supposed that the
one of the three objects that he crept toward and seized upon was
prophetic of his future character--that the three objects represented
worldly pleasure, the seeking for wealth, and the spiritual life.

Franklin's love for public improvements was certainly indicated in his
early years. He liked the water and boats, and he saw how convenient a
little wharf near his house would be; so he planned to build one, and
laid his plans before his companions.

"We will build it of stone," he said. "There are plenty of stones near
the wharf."

"But the workmen there would not let us have them," said a companion.

"We will take them after they have gone from their work. We can build
the wharf in a single evening. The workmen may scold, but they will not
scold the stone landing out of the water again."

One early twilight of a long day the boys assembled at the place chosen
by young Franklin for his wharf, and began to work like beavers, and
before the deep shadows of night they had removed the stones to the
water and builded quite a little wharf or landing.

"We can catch minnows and sail our boats from here now," said young
Franklin as he looked with pride on the triumphs of his plan. "All the
boys will be free to use this landing," he thought. "Won't it make the
people wonder!"

It did.

The next morning the weather door of the thrifty tallow chandler opened
with a ring.

"Josiah Franklin, where is that boy of yours?" asked a magistrate.

The paper cap bobbed up, and the man at the molds bent his head forward
with wondering eyes.

"Which boy?"

"Ben, the one that is always leading other boys round."

"I dunno. He's making a boat--or was.--Benjamin!" he called; "I say,
Benjamin!"

The door of the living room opened, and little Ben appeared.

"Here's a man who has come to see you. What have you been doing now?"

"Boy," said the man--he spoke the word so loudly that the little boy
felt that it raised him almost to the dignity of a man.

"What, sir?" gasped Ben, very intelligent as to what would follow.

"Did you put those stones into the water?"

"Yes, sir."

"What did you do that for?"

"To make a wharf, sir."

"'To make a wharf, sir!' Didn't you have the sense to know that those
stones wer