Part 3 (1/2)
MAKING CANDLES
When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give hih his knowledge of arithmetic was very limited indeed
”Are you about ready, Benjamin, to come into the shop and help me?”
inquired his father, at the dinner table
”Aer?” he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly
”I think the close of this terive you,” replied his father ”You will fare, then, better than your brothers, in respect to schooling”
”I had rather not go into the shop,” said Benjamin ”I think I shall not like to e in some other business”
”And starve, too,” said his father ”In such ti to do ill insure us a livelihood I know of no other business that would giveat present, certainly none that I am qualified to pursue”
Mr Franklin was a dyer by trade, in England, and designed to continue it when he removed to A at Boston, that it would be quite impossible for him to support his family at this trade The country was new, and the habits of the people were different fro business could receive but little patronage The next pursuit that presented itself, with fair promises of success, was that of ”tallow-chandler and soap-boiler;” not so cleanly and popular a business as some, but yet necessary to be done, and very useful in its place; and this was enough for such a man as Mr Franklin to know He cared very little whether the trade was popular, so long as it was indispensable and useful To him no business was dishonourable, if the wants of society absolutely demanded it
”Well, I should rather make soap and candles than starve,” said Benja to follow the business”
”One other thing ought toto do such work,” added his father ”You had better do this than do nothing, for idleness is the parent of vice Boys like you should be industrious, even if they do not earn their bread It is better for the than not to work at all”
”I think they ,”
said Benjamin ”People ”
”You do not understand me,” continued Mr Franklin ”Ito for than to be idle If they are idle when they are young, they will be so when they become men, and idleness will finally be their ruin 'The devil tempts all other men, but idle men tempt the devil,' is an old and truthful proverb, and I hope you will never consent to verify it”
Mr Franklin had been a close observer all his life, and he had noticed that industry was characteristic of those who acco commendable Consequently he insisted that his children should have employment He allowed no drones in his fa to do as soon as they were old enough to toil Under such influences Benjarew up to be as much in love with industry as his father was Sos, when he beca the maxims which he uttered in his riper years:--
”Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears; while the used key is always bright”
”But dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is s the ality”
”Sloth s difficult, but industry all easy; and he that ariseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes hier looks in, but dares not enter”
”Diligence is the s to industry”
”One to-day is worth two to-morrows”
”Drive thy business, let not thy business drive thee”
”God helps them that help themselves”
These are very beautiful and expressive sentences, and they show that Benjaht as much of industry in his manhood as his father did a quarter of a century before Take the first, in which he compares slothfulness to rust, which will consume iron tools or machinery faster than their constant use will As the use of a hoe or a spade keeps it polished, so the habitual exercise of the powers of huood condition A key that is cast aside soon rusts, and is spoiled, but ”the used key is always bright” It is more fit for use because it has been used
How true it is that ”hunger dare not enter the working-man's house!”