The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-02-05
such thirst for knowledge, more proper
books had not fallen in my way.

me a turn Of thinking, which had an in
flueuce on some Of the principal future
events in my lifc.' Yes, sir, in the read
ING of those books was the acorn, that
sproutcd into that magnificent oak, there
was the fountain-drop which q fairy
might sip from buttercup, from which
has flowed the Missouri and Mississippi
the broad, deep river Of Franklin's fame,
winding its way through the lapse Of ages
and destined to flow on, till it shall be
engulphed in the ocean Of eternity. From
his infancy sir, 'passionately fond Of
reading nay, with the appetite Of a vul'
turc, with the digestion Of an ostrich, at
tacking the great folios on polemic dig
nifty in his fathers library. Not dull
boy, either, sir; not a prccocious little
book-worm; fond Of play; doesn't dislike
a little mischief; sometimes as he tells
us, led the other boys into scrapes; but
in his intervals Of play, in his leisure mo.
ments, up in the lonely garret, when the
rest of the family were asleep, holding
converse in his childhood with the grave
old non.conformists, Howe, and Owen,
and Baxter, communing with the auster-
est lords of thought the dcmigods of pur-
itanism,-
Non sine dies anmous infans.
Franklin not book mani Why, he
goes on to tell us that it was this book
ish inclination which at length determin'
cd his father to make him printer,
against his own inclination, which was for
the sea and when he had thus by con-
straint become a printer, his great conso-
lation was, as he says, that 4 now had &C.
cess to better books. An acquaintance
with the apprentices Of booksellers ena'
bled me sometimes to borrow small one
which | was careful to return soon and
clean. Often I sat up in my chamber
reading the greatest part OF the night
when the book was borrowed in the eve
ming and to be returned in the morning
Then he made the acquaintance Of Mr..
Matthew Adams, an ingenious, sensible
man, who had pretty collection Of
books. He frequcnted thepIinting office,
took notice of the bright little apprentice
and very kindly proposed to lend me
such books as ! chose to read Having
taken to vegetable diet at the age OF
sixteen, he persuaded his brotherto allow
him in cash hall the price Of his board,
lived on potatoes and hasty pudding
soon found that he could save even halt
of that little allowance (which could not
have exceeded two-and sixpcncc q week,
lawful money!, and this poor little econo-
INV was an additional fund for buying
books! What would the poor, under.fed
boy, who was glad to buy books on the
savings Of his potato diet, have said could
he have hal free access to hall like this,
stored as il soon will be with its priceless
treasuresi Further, sir, while working
as journeyman in England, lie says: ii
made the acquaintance Of ono William
Wilcox, a bookseller, whose shop was
next door. He had an immense collcc-
ton of second hand books (Some-
what, | suppose, like our friend Burnham,
in Cornhill.) Circulating libraries were
not then in use, but we agreed that on
certain reasonable terms which | have
now forgotten, I might take, read aud re-
turn any of his works. This | esteemed
a great advantage, and ! made as much
use Of it as could
Finally, sir, as | have already said,
Franklin's first important movement for
the good of his fellow men was the fo1n-
dation of the public library in Philade,-
phia. At his instance, the members Of q
little club to which he belonged, trades
men and mechanics Of narrow means
threw into common stock the few books
which belonged to them. Asubscription
was then obtained from fifty young men,
principally tradesmen, Of two pounds
each and ten shillings per annum, and
with this little fund they began. "The
books were imported, the library was
opened one day in the week for lending
them to the subscribers, on their promis-
sorry notes to pay double the value II not
duly returned This was the mother,r
says Franklin, Of all the North American
subscription Libraries now so numerous.
1t has become great thing ITSELF and
continually goes on increasing. These
libraries have improved the general con-
venstion Of the Americans, made the
common tradesmen and farmers a. intel
ligcit as most gentlemen from other
countries and perhaps, have contributed
in some degree to the stan! 80 generally
made throughout the colonies in defence
Of their privileges" Those arc the words
Of franklin, Mr.. Mayor, which ! resd
from his own book.
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