d somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation. When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talki

ducate girls as thoroughly as boys are educated; for the fe

irls are not so simple as you think they are. I believe that w

e evidence of it?" replied John. "There is n

lf so much is done to educate them as there is to educate the male sex. How can you tell whe

are not required to lead off in the different branches of business, or to prosecute the sciences. I can see no

think you have a weak cause to defend. If

d John. "We will see, the next time

amin, "and our ardour will be cooled before that time, I am

ing his sentence to the last word of Ben

favour of educating the female sex. He wrote it in the form of a letter, addressed to his friend Collins, and, after having completed, he copied it in a fair hand, and sent it to him. This brought back a long

ters accidentally, and he read them over, an

he inquired, at the same t

, and rather he

ohn," continued Mr. Franklin. "You have both done very wel

them all?" in

t, in some respects, John

vantage?" asked Benjam

nswered Mr. Franklin. "His expressions are more elegant, an

re prejudiced," said

ng, and in pointing your sentences, which is the consequence of working in the printing-offi

Benjamin. "I hardly expect I have

esign of showing that John's writing was more perspicuous, and that th

l he intended to read. "I can make improvement in those points

your letters, for they show me that you have talents to improve. My only object in ca

tudy it with reference to improving the style of his composition. The method which he adopted to discipline himself, by the aid of this work, is proof of his patience, perseverance, and desire to excel. In the first place, he read it over and over, until he became very well acquainted with its contents. Then he took some of the papers it contained, and made short hints of the sentiments of each sentence, and

ng poetry," said he to his father, "I s

inquired M

would rhyme, and this would have made me familiar with a larger number of words, and

" replied Mr. Franklin. "It is not too late to begin now. I rather think you have discovered an important defect in your writing. John evidently has a better com

e some of the tales in the book and put them into ve

ed with his son's desire to improve. "If your patience holds ou

, and then turning them into prose. He also jumbled his collection of hints into confusion, and so let them lie

und some time for reading and study. He was an early riser, not, perhaps, because he had no inclination to lie in bed, but because he had more to improve his mind. He gained time enough in the morning, by this early rising, to acquire more knowledge than some youths and young men do by constantly going to school. In the

series of years should write some of the best maxims upon this subject when he b

out pains; then help han

bts, while despai

ill to-morrow which

e for doing som

and a life of lazin

igent spinner has a large shift, and, now I have

to catch you

ittens; remember that the ca

and you will see great effects, for constant dropping wears away stones; and by dili

bed, and e

ealthy, wealt

h utterances as we might expect from the lips of one who was early taught to walk in the ways of wisdom. All along in t

rovement. At home, his parents had ever required that he should attend public worship; but now he neglected the house of God, that he might command the more time for study. It was a grave breach of a divine commandment, and a disregard of parental authority, which he

be benefited in this way. The most unmeaning and thoughtless words escape from their lips, and a sound, sensible, valuable conversation they seldom, if ever, attempt. What an excellent example is that of young Franklin and Collins, discussing a question of importance, instead of wasting their breath in meani

tious works, yet he concealed them in a sly place, and read them when his father's eye was not upon him; and they served to stimulate his mind to pursue a most brilliant literary career. In like manner, Pope, the distinguished poet, strolled into the theatre in his boyhood, when he was away from his parents at school, and there the first aspi