Part 8 (1/2)
He had not laboured long at the business before he was quite fascinated with it He liked it better even than he expected He exhibited, too, a good degree of tact for it, and his progress in learning the art was rapid His brother was highly gratified with his close attention to his business, and commended hi He was introduced now to another class of acquaintances, so that his opportunities for getting books to read were -office was frequented by booksellers' apprentices, whose eh them Benjamin was made acquainted with the limited stock of books the ht,” said one of these apprentices to hi to a certain volu over in the book-store
”I should be glad to read it,” answered Benjao to bed, and so return it in the o to the office”
”You won't have h before you go to bed,” said the apprentice
”Perhaps not; but I can afford toof this book I shall not mind that, and I can return it without a blemish”
”The book is for sale,” continued the apprentice, ”and we ht have a call for it to-er If you do not read it all to-night, and we do not sell it to-ht I frequently read a voluh, a little at a time, before we have a chance to sell it”
”You , safe and sound,” said Benja his friend for the kind favour
He went ho more deeply interested in its contents than he was in pleasant dreams
A short nap, after the volume was finished, was all that tiot his book, and the printing-office its apprentice, in good season
This was but a single instance of the favours he received in this way frohts he stole froht read volu In this way his an to be noticed in the office as a boy of great promise One day Mr
Matthew Adams, a merchant of rank and influence, who had been attracted by Benjamin's appearance, said to him: ”Do you find time to read any, with all the work you have to perfors, and occasionally find a little ti the day”
”It is an excellent plan for boys to iret spending your tilad to show you my library, and to lend you any books you may be interested to read”
”That is what I should like,” said Benjahted with this unexpected offer; ”I find it difficult to get all the books I want”
”It would afford reat pleasure to assist you what little I can in this respect,” repeated Mr Adao to school need such help, and I alad to see that you are disposed to accept of it”
Benjamin thanked him for his kindness, and assured him that he should embrace the first opportunity to call at his house He redeemed his promise at his earliest convenience, and Mr Adaenuine cordiality He showed him his library, and allowed him to select any book he preferred to carry home, and invited him to come as often as he pleased for others This was a brimful cup of kindness to Benjahly of Mr
Adae offered, but went often to gratify his thirst for knowledge
The reader can scarcely appreciate the value of this privilege to Benja abundant then The bookstores, instead of being furnished with thousands of volu world, offered only a re collection of volumes, such as would hardly be noticed at the present tithem over the land, as is the case to-day Neither were there any libraries at that time
The idea of a collection of books to lend for the public good had not entered thecontrast with this feature of society nohen a city like Boston opens its splendid Public Library of seventy-five thousand volues throughout the land furnish readingin similar proportion; whilst private libraries of five, ten, twenty, and thirty thousand volumes are not unusual Now, the trouble with boys is not how they can possibly get books to read, but what they shall select from the vast number that load the shelves of libraries and bookstores
The habit of reading which Benjamin had thus early formed served to make him punctual In order to command the more tied every duty He was seldoht in tardiness It was this well-formed habit of punctuality that -office His brother knew that he would be there at such a time, and that he would remain just so many hours This fact won his confidence, as it does the confidence of every one There is no quality that does ood name for an individual, and inspire the confidence of his fellow-enerally found in company with other excellent traits of character, that it seeranted, usually, that the punctual person is worthy in other respects This quality contributed to the renown and influence of Lord Brougham, of wholory, presiding in the House of Lords and the Court of Chancery, he found tiht or ten public associations,--one of which was the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge,--and he was a pattern of punctuality in every place, being always in the chair when the hour forarrived
CHAPTER IX
FIRST LITERARY ENTERPRISE
”What have you there?” inquired Ja over Benjamin's shoulder at some composition which he held in his hand
”Ay! poetry, is it? Then you are a poet, are you? Let me read it”
Benjamin rather hesitated to exhibit the first attempts of his ave it up to hi what I could do”