Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, by SAMUEL G. GOODRICH, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 4 1X 128 1 PREFACE. THE following Preface to the Life of Columbus will explain the plan of the series, of which this is the third volume : "There is no kind of reading more attractive than biography, and, if properly treated, there is none more instructive. It appears, therefore, to be peculiarly fitted to the purposes of education; it readily excites the curiosity and awakens the interest of the pupil, and, while it stores his mind with facts, dates and events, displays to his view the workings of the human heart, and makes him better acquainted with himself and mankind. "In the selection of subjects for a biographical series of works for youth, the editor has been led, by two consider ations, to prefer those which belong to our own country. In the first place, it is more particularly necessary that our youth should be made acquainted with the lives of those men who were associated with the history of their native land; and, in the second place, no country can afford hap 1 * pier subjects for biography than this. There are few such lives as those of Columbus, Washington, and Franklin, in the annals of any nation. "In the preparation of the work, the author has sought to adapt it to youth, by the use of a simple style, and by the introduction of many illustrative tales, sketches, anecdotes and adventures. Questions for examining the pupils are printed in the pages, which may be used, or not, at the choice of the Teacher." The Life of Columbus and the Life of Washington, on a plan similar to this, have been already published; and other volumes, containing the lives of celebrated Indian Chiefs, celebrated American Statesmen, &c., will appear hereafter, if those already in progress should meet with suc CONTENTS. Choice of a Trade. He is placed with a Cutler. His Fondness for Reading. Bound Apprentice to his Franklin gives up eating Meat. His Economy of Time. Studies Arithmetic. James Franklin estab- lishes a Newspaper. Benjamin writes for it. His Brother is imprisoned. Benjamin manages the Paper. Leaves his Brother. Goes to New York His Journey. His Dinner with the old Ginger- bread Woman. Arrives in Philadelphia. Anec- dote of the Rolls. Attends the Meeting House of the Quakers. Suspected of being a Runaway. Troubled by his Friend Ralph. Obtains Employ ment. Ralph turns Schoolmaster, and begins an Epic Poem. Franklin teaches some of his Friends to swim. Anecdote of Mr. Denham. Return to Philadelphia. Story of George Webb. Franklin The Junto. A new Paper started by Keimer. Frank- lin purchases it. Difficulties in their Business. A Dissolution of the Partnership. Franklin assisted Library of the Junto. A public Library estab- lished. Franklin studies. His Frugality. Anec- dote of the Bowl and Spoon. His Scheme of Management of his Newspaper. Study of the Lan- guages. Chess-playing. The Preacher Hemphill. Stealing Sermons. Visit to Boston Visits his Brother James at Newport. Usefulness of the |