The Printer Boy; Or, How Benjamin Franklin Made His Mark. William Makepeace Thayer
rel="nofollow" href="#u2a64d67d-0dbb-4547-8ec6-2ee0a6f994de">CHAPTER X.
THE DISPUTE.
Dispute with John Collins—A Bookish Fellow—The Education of Girls—The Controversial Correspondence—His Father finds the Letters—His Criticisms—Collins versus Benjamin—Bought a Copy of the Spectator and studied it laboriously—Sorry that he did not continue to write Poetry—His Father's Counsel—His Economy of Time—A Book always by his side—His Maxims on this Subject—Violating the Sabbath to gain Time for Study—Useful Conversation and Talking Nonsense—Hundreds ruined by a similar cause—Walter Scott hiding Novels from his Father—Pope going to the Theatre—Exceptions to the General Rule
93–103
PLAIN FARE.
Proposition to board Himself—Became a Vegetarian by Reading Tryon's Book—Why he did it—How much Money he saved by doing it—Spent it for Books—How much Time saved also—Cocker's Arithmetic—Other Books read at odd moments—His Plan to save Time—His Maxims on saving Time—Aim to be Useful—The English Grammar—Shaftesbury's Works—Benjamin a Doubter—Makes known his Doubts to Collins—Danger of Reading Attacks upon the Gospel
104–113
THE NEWSPAPER.
Starting the Third Newspaper in America—Opposition to it—Number of Newspapers now—Forty Million Sheets from Eight Presses—Seventy-one Miles a day of Newspapers from One Office—Almost enough to reach around the Earth in a Year—Weigh these Papers—Four Million Pounds in a Year—Two Thousand Two-Horse Loads—The New England Courant started—Printer, News-carrier, and Collector—The Club—Incited to write an Article—Tucks it under Printing-office Door—Hears it favourably commented on—Writes other Articles—This an Incident that decides his Career—Canning at Eton and the "Microcosm"—Similar Paper in Seminaries now
114–122
THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG.
Eager to Own the Pieces—Discloses the Authorship to James—Interview with the Club—Surprise that Benjamin wrote them—Treated with Attention by the Club—Oppressed by James—Trouble with him—Benjamin resolves to leave him—The Printing-office furnishes many Scholars—A New England Divine—Benjamin directed in the Path to which his Native Endowments pointed—So of Lord Nelson—Anecdote of him—Buxton, Wilberforce, and Others—Example of the Author of the "Optic Library"
123–129
THE ARREST.
Action of General Court to Arrest James Franklin for Libel—The Legislative Order—James imprisoned four weeks, and Benjamin arrested, but discharged—The immediate Cause of the Arrest—Meeting of the Club—Decision to publish the Paper in Benjamin's Name—Shrewd Evasion—Youngest Conductor of a Paper who ever lived—His Thrusts at the Government—Benjamin born in troublous Times—Attacks and Massacres by the Savages—Prepared thereby to act in achieving Independence—Bears in Boston
130–136
THE RUNAWAY.
A Quarrel—Asserting his Freedom—Statement of the Case—Appeal to his Father—His Father's Decision—Leaves his Brother—Fails to get Work—Charged with being an Infidel—Plans to run away—Conference with Collins—His Plan to get away—Collins's Talk with the Captain of a New York Sloop, and his Base Lie—Benjamin Boards the Sloop—Arrival in New York—His lonely Condition—Guilt of a Runaway—Quarrel between Brothers painful—Case of William Hutton—Lines of Dr. Watts
137–147
ANOTHER TRIP AND ITS TRIALS.
Calls on Printer Bradford in New York—No Work—Recommended to go to Philadelphia—Arranges for the Trip—Starts for Philadelphia—The Drunken Dutchman—His wet Volume and Bottle—Struck by a Squall—A sad Night off Long Island—Benjamin's Feelings—The next morning—Storm subsides—Next night on shore—Advantage of a little Reading—Boys lose nothing by spending leisure Hours in Reading—The Young Man in Maine—Discipline of the Mind—Case of Gibbon—What Boys say—Sir Walter Scott in Boyhood, and his warning Words—Benjamin leaving Amboy—Fifty Miles on Foot—Suspected of being a Runaway—Reaches the Quack Doctor's Tavern—Arrival at Burlington—The Gingerbread Woman—The Boat gone—Going back to the Gingerbread Woman—His Walk—The unexpected Boat and his Passage—In Cooper's Creek at Midnight—Reached Philadelphia on Sunday Morning—The Shilling—The Boy and his Loaf—Going up Market Street with a Baker's Loaf under each Arm—Miss Read—Asleep in a Quaker Church—Suspected again of being a Runaway—First Night in Philadelphia
148–166
GETTING WORK.
Call upon Andrew Bradford—His Surprise—Disappointment—Directed to Keimer—The Interview—Advantage of Thoroughness—Benjamin did things well—Bradford's Talk with Keimer—Keimer ensnared—Benjamin makes a Disclosure—Keimer astonished—Repairing a Printing-press—At work for Keimer—Goes to Board at Mr. Read's—His Power of Observation—Stephenson like him—William Hutton again and his Dulcimer—Perseverance—Not proud—How many Boys would have done—Maxims
167–175
NEWS FROM HOME, AND RETURN.
The Unexpected Letter—Benjamin's Reply—Governor Keith calls to see him—Surprise of Keimer—Invites him to the Tavern—Advises him to set up Business for Himself—Benjamin's Objections overruled—Decides to return to Boston to ask his Father's Assistance—How the Governor learned of Benjamin—His Return to Boston—Joy at Home—His gentlemanly appearance—Goes to his Brother's Printing-office—Cold Reception—Interview with the Workmen—Exhibition of his Silver Coin—His Watch—The Dollar "Treat"—James incensed—Interview with his Mother—Stating Business to his Father, and giving him the Governor's Letter—His Father's Talk with Captain Homes—His Father's Denial—Collins returns with him
176–178
BACK AGAIN.
Sails for New York—Stops at Newport and visits his Brother—The New Passengers—The Old Quaker Lady's Attention—A Narrow Escape—Arrival in New York—Collins there first and intoxicated—Makes a Confession to Benjamin—Owns that he gambles—Loses all his Money—Message from Governor Burnet—Benjamin goes to see him—Trip to Philadelphia—Collects Vernon's Debt—Takes Collins to board with him—Throws Collins into the River Delaware—The Fate of Collins—Interview with Governor Keith—The Governor promises to set him up in Business.
188–195
A